I 



LETTERS 



TO 



MARRIED LADIES, 






BY 



HUGH SMITH, M. D. 



TO WHICH IS ADDED, 



A LETTER ON CORSETS, 



AND 



COPIOUS NOTES, 



BY 



AN AMERICAN PHYSICIAN. 



THIRD EDITION 



ji^f^^t 









NEW YORK: "<s«oo >o3g^ 

H. C. SLEIGHT, CLINTON HALL. 

BOSTON : 

PEIRCE AND PARKER, 9 CORN HILL 

1832. 



<^ 



"lb 



Southern District of New York, ss. 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-ninth day of March, A. D. 

1827, in the fifty-first year of the Independence of the United States of Ame- 
rica, Henry C. Sleight, of the said district, hath deposited in this ofiice the 
title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words 
following, to wit : 

" Letters to Married Ladies, by Hugh Smith, M. D.; to which is added, a 
Letter on Corsets, and copious Notes, by an American Physician." 

In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled " An 
act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, 
charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the 
times therein mentioned;" and also to an act, entitled "An act supple- 
mentary to an act, entitled An act for the encouragement of learning, by 
securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and propri- 
etors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the 
benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical 
and other prints." 

FREDERICK I. BETTS, 
Clerk of the Southern District of J^cw York, 



LC Control Number 




tmp96 030411 






CONTENTS 



PAGE. 

Introductory Letter. 1 

Preface. 13 

LETTER I. 

Of Marks. — The imaginary consequences of 
frights and longings. A candid inquiry into the 
merits of this doctrine. 23 

LETTER II. 

Of Marks. — Showing that such blemishes may 
happen independently of the mother's imagina- 
tion. 39 

LETTER III. 

Of Miscarriages. 49 

LETTER IV. 

Mother's Miik.~The natural and best food 
for Infants. 61 

LETTER V. 

Arguments in favour of Suckling. — As well for 
the mother's sake, as the child's ; and the evils 
to be apprehended in delivering children to the 
care of foster nurses. 71 

LETTER VI. 

The Management of infants from the birth.-- 
With directions for putting them to the breast. 79 

LETTER VII. 

A natural and easy method of Suckling Child- 



CONTENTS. 

i'en. — This duty proved to be a pleasure, rather 

than a fatigue. 87 

LETT EH VIII. 

The proper method of Weaning Children. 97 

LETTER IX. 

The safest method of Rearing Children by hand. 1 07 

LETTER X. 

The general Management of Children, from the 
time of weaning, till they are about two years 
old — with observations upon the cutting of teeth. 121 

LETTER XI. * 

The general Management of Children, from 
two years old, till they leave the nursery. 135 

LETTER XII. 

The necessity of Cultivating the Dispositions 
of children, to render them amiable and virtuous. 143 

LETTER XIII. 

Of Milk. — Its properties examined— the dif- 
ferent kinds of miik compared with each other — - 
and their particular virtues explained. 157 

LETTER XIV. 

The Sick Chamber, with directions also for 
Invalids. 167 

LETTER XV. 

Old Age — By virtue rendered truly honorable. 
The steps by which we mounted into life, shown 
to be the easiest and best paths to descend into 
the grave. 187 

ADDITIONAL LETTER 

On Corsets. 199 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER, 

BY THE 

AMERICAN EDITOR. 

When a book is to be published, no matter what its na- 
ture, no matter who the author, a few scattered sen- 
tences must be brought together, and inserted after the 
title page ; not for the purpose of being read, but only 
to be over-looked ; and after it is completed, it is called 
either "An Introduction," or a ''Preface." In con- 
formity to custom, therefore, I have huddled together a 
few sentences about one thing and another, supposing, 
of course, that no one will ever read them. 

A short time since, the editor of this little volume, 
enjoyed the happiness of seeing a niece of his, a young 
lady for whom he entertains the greatest esteem, united 
to the man of her choice, — the object of her affection. 
She requested him to draw up some general directions 
and give her, — ^just such instruction and advice as he 
thought would be of use to her in the capacity of a 
mother. Her education had been such as to keep her 
in utter ignorance of things which she found now inti- 
mately concerned, more than herself. She, like hun- 
dreds and thousands of our young ladies, knew not how 

to fulfil many duties, which she now found herself called 

1 



il INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



upon to perform. Her time had been occupied in the 
attainment of many branches of education, which she 
discovered to be capable of yielding her very little pro- 
fit, and the true value of v^hich she found was mostly 
vanity. What greatly added to her embarrassments 
was, she had buried her mother, — that sure counsellor, 
that elder portion of herself, that sweet soother of life's 
rugged path. She now became sensible that the loss of 
a fond mother, and one whose judgment and whose ex- 
perience were worth possessing, was a loss upon which 
she had not calculated ; a loss she found totally irrepa- 
rable. Surrounded with every blessing which wealth 
could procure, an indulgent father could supply, and an 
affectionate husband heighten, she discovered that neither 
wealth, father, nor husband, could supply the place of a 
mother in her new situation. Ye who have enjoyed the 
envied privilege of having a mother to guide, to coun- 
sel and to direct you — a mother to explain and smooth 
over the ten thousand little difficulties, and apparently 
trifling circumstances, during the first months of the 
married state, are not aware of the magnitude of the 
blessing you possess, and are equally unable to imagine 
the irreparable loss this amiable young lady sustained. 
To supply, in some measure, this loss, and to fulfil a 
request I could not deny, I searched around in order to 
find some plain familiar author, which I could cheerfully 
put into her hands : and of all which I examined, and 
they were neither few nor small, I met with none 
which more fully met with my approbation, than 
•^ SmitKs Letters to Married Ladies,'"'^ 



INTRODUCTOKY LETTER. HI 



The grand objection to most works of this nature, 
books written to put into the hands of mothers, is, they 
contain directions and instructions better calculated for 
physicians than for mothers ; and thereby bewilder and 
alarm, where no such effect was intended : it is no dif- 
ficult point, I am aware, to determine the precise line 
of distinction, and completely separate the duties of the 
one from those of the other. Of the most pains-taking 
individual, afler he has completed his task, some will be 
ready to say, " he has fallen short in portraying half the 
duties of the mother," while others may say, "he has 
done a great deal more." But notwithstanding this, 
there is one point I shall hold sacred, one right which 
may not be infringed ; no direction should ever be given to 
the mother^ calculated to make her the physician of her 
child. 

In this respect, I think Buchan, and Herdman, and Burns, 
and a host of others, have greatly erred. The moment 
you license a mother, or a nurse, to prescribe and ad- 
minister, you allow a liberty which may prove fatal to 
the subject. If any prescription is necessary, (and the 
necessity should be more than imaginary,) it certainly 
requires to be a judicious one, and one exactly adapted 
to the circumstances of the case. A little superficial 
knowledge, or that which may be obtained from deceit- 
ful experience, without one particle of sober reflection, 
is not sufficient to know the when, and what, and how, 
of a medical prescription. It should always be con- 
sidered a matter of serious moment for any person, but 
more especially for a child, to take a dose of medicine. 



iv INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

There can be no question but thousands of valuable 
lives are yearly sacrificed by the injudicious prescriptions 
of ignorant women. Is it conjectured their nostrums 
are harmless and innocent, and if they can do no good, 
they certainly can do no harm ? I tell you nay ; — we 
have no authority for considering any prescription, how- 
ever gentle and mild, as harmless and inoffensive ; for 
if it offends in no other way, it does by taking the place 
of a more active remedy, and thereby passively becomes 
the cause of unmeasured mischief. 

It takes the physician, who appropriates all his time to 
his profession, many years of laborious study, and hard 
earned experience, to acquire the knowledge necessary to 
prescribe with tolerable success ; and the more he labors, 
and the older he grov^rs, the more sensible he becomes 
of his ignorance ; and yet the inexperienced nurse, the 
bold and ignorant hand of one who cannot know, may 
be licensed to do it. 

In this view of the case then, does it not clearly ap- 
pear that those books calculated to encourage the igno- 
rant to undertake a business requiring so much nice dis- 
crimination, so much correct judgment, are far more 
likely to produce a greater amount of evil than of good ? 
I would, therefore, advise every parent who has any re- 
gard for the health and comfort of his family, or any 
desire for economy, never to lay his hand upon any 
book for the purpose of being instructed in the art of 
home-made prescription ; and let it be a motto engraven 
upon the bracelets of every nurse, never to assume 
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PHYSICIAN, either by inter- 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



fering with the economy of nature, of which she knows 
nothing, or with the philosophy of a judicious medical 
prescription of which she knows, if possible, much less. 

The objections, therefore, which I form to Buchan's 
"Advice to Mothers," and '^Herdman on Infants," 
and others which I might mention, are, that while they 
contain matter of paramount importance, and matter 
excellently well arranged and forcibly set forth, and (es- 
pecially the first,) elegantly dressed, that as a whole, 
they are more befitting the library of a physician than 
that of a mother, notwithstanding they contain a vast 
amount of information and instruction, which is indis- 
pensable to the correct management of the nursery. 

I am of opinion that the work of Dr. Smith is, for the 
most part, free from these faults, (if faults it will do to 
call them,) and hope that the notes which have been add- 
ed, will not make them less worthy the acceptance of 
the public than they have been without them. I found 
the letters were out of print, and that an edition of 
them might probably be disposed of; and to make them 
more acceptable, I have, in many places, altered the 
text so as, if possible, less to offend the eye of delicacy. 
The additional letter, on Corsets, appeared to be called 
for, because the habit of wearing them is becoming 
universal, and thousands of ladies are daily girting them- 
selves up, without any knowledge of their injurious ef- 
fects, and without any idea of the extent of mischief 
they are causing themselves. If my labor has the ef- 
fect of preserving the life of only one young lady, it 

will not have been in vain ; but if it should produce the 

1^ 



VI INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

still greater effect of causing Corsets to be held in dis- 
repute, and banished for ever from the toilet, to the cells 
of the mad-house, and within the bars and the bolts of 
the prison, whence they originated, it will be an ample 
compensation ; but which, considering the power of pre- 
judice and the infatuation of fashion, I dare not anti- 
cipate. 

In the notes which I have added, I have endeavored 
to keep in view the grand object of these letters,- — that of 
allaying unnecessary fears, and quelling needless purtur- 
bation, as far as could be done consistently with truth. 

In what I have had to do with this little book, I have 
aimed at perspicuity, more than elegance, — at matter, 
more than manner. It is hardly to be expected that a 
physician, no matter how correct a scholar he may have 
been at the period of his leaving college, should retain 
in his writing all the rules of criticism which were once 
taught him, especially if an extensive and laborious 
practice in his profession occupies his time and en- 
grosses his attention. How far I have succeeded in ma- 
king myself understood, and how far I have attained the 
object I have contemplated, remains not with me to de- 
termine. 

I do not, however, feel wilhng to close these introduc- 
tory remarks, without noticing one or two little faults in 
which many ladies, and especially the unmarried, are apt 
to indulge themselves ; and which appears to be owing 
more to a false idea of modesty, or an affected degree 
of sensibility, than to correct or natural feelings. 

One thing is, their apparent terror and alarm at the 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. Vll 

sight of blood. So prevalent are these expressed feel- 
ings, that in cases of emergency, it is, oftentimes, next 
to impossible to obtain from them the least assist- 
ance. Especially do we see it when their friend, to 
whose relief the physician is summoned, is to be 
bled ; not one can be found to help ; not one to hold 
the bowl ; and, not unfrequently, a neighbor must be 
sent for, before the operation — the terrible operation — 
can be performed I To such young ladies, (if any such 
should perchance cast their eyes upon these pages,) I 
would say, overcome these affected terrors, — yield not 
to the temptation, but rather determine to suffer a lit- 
tle while, than to be the subject of such unenviable 
timidity. 

Another censurable practice is, a concealing of the 
truth from your physician. Recollect, when called 
upon to prescribe, it becomes necessary that he should 
be informed of all your symptoms : it is not for you to 
judge what symptoms are essential, and what are not, 
to influence his prescription ; and no one can tell the 
amount of evil this folly may bring upon the patient. 
There is no necessity for a bold, unblushing declaration 
of the whole truth ; but on your part, there should be 
no desire to conceal, and no effort to hide the true state 
of the case. I am unwilling to ascribe any thing of 
this kind to modesty. True modesty never interferes, in 
any respect, with health ; it must be nothing less than 
mock modesty, bearing no alliance to that lovely charm 
which sheds such lustre over every female grace. No 
men delight more to see modesty shine forth conspicu- 



Vlll INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

ous in the female character, than physicians ; and none, 
I am sure, do more abominate its counterfeit ; and, ge- 
nerally speaking, I think I may say, without fear of 
contradiction, that few men are better able to detect it. 
Certainly, no class of men have a better opportunity of 
studying human nature ; her book lies open all the while 
before their eyes, and, usually, they are pretty thorough- 
ly acquainted with every leaf Ladies, therefore, should 
be upon their guard, how they exhibit the mere pre- 
tence of character before any one, but especially before 
physicians. 

A third evil that I would mention, which, although, 
perhaps, not as common an occurrence as those already 
noted, is still of equal, if not greater magnitude. It is 
that of deviating from the prescriptions of your physi- 
sician, or in any way interposing your own judgment, 
which may serve to counteract his. He leaves you di- 
rections, and to those directions you should implicitly 
adhere ; indeed, they cannot be infringed upon without 
danger to yourselves, and injustice to your physician. 
The former may appear, if you reflect, that from the 
prescription, a certain effect is expected, and cannot be 
produced, if the means to produce it be neglected. The 
injustice to your physician may appear, if you reflect, 
that his subsistence depends upon his practice, and the 
extent of his practice usually upon his success in the 
management of disease ; and how can he calculate upon 
success, if interference with his prescriptions should 
be tolerated ? It is exceedingly disgusting to hear pa- 
rents, or others, when a physician is about prescribing 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. IX 

for any member of their family, to say, " Doctor, won't 
it do to give such and such a thing ? — Such and such a 
person was just so, and tried it, and it helped them di- 
rectly. — Why ! Doctor, don't you think that is too large 
a dose for such an infant, or for such a delicate person ? 
— I am afraid to give it this^ I am afraid to do tliat^ I am 
afraid it will do more hurt than good. — Oh, Doctor, 
have you not taken blood enough ? why, you will kill 
him by bleeding him. — Surely, you are not going to put 
on so large a blister ! why, that is enough to produce 
fever itself 1" and ten thousand such like exclamations, 
which are too common to need repetition. 

Let me ask you ; if you have no confidence in your 
physician, why employ him ? And if you have,— why 
act as if you had not? Why trammel him, and fetter 
him in this manner ? — Rather would I never prescribe — 
I would sacrifice my interest in the most wealthy 
family, if my prescriptions must pass the ordeal of their 
judgment. I must practice without such restraints, or 
I shall not practice at all. I would rather carry the 
hod, or drive the cart ; and so would any physician whose 
soul was not smaller than a ''microscopic mite." 

The last evil which I shall mention, requires me to 
premise, that it is by no means confined to the female 
sex ; and I am not certain, but they are more free from 
it, than their "wiser companions." I allude to the ra- 
pid extinction of gratitude. Perhaps, gratitude never 
runs higher upon our earth, than it does toward the 
physician, who, by a judicious interference of the heal- 
ing art, has been the happy instrument of snatching 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



from the yawning jaws of death, some endeared com- 
panion, and restored such an one to arms just ready to 
hang down in despair. One would be ready to think, 
that an attempt to express the amount of such raptu- 
rous feehngs by ghttering dust, would almost be offering 
an insult to gratitude ; and yet, strange as it may ap- 
pear, Ihave lived to see such gratitude entirely cancel- 
led by less than a dozen dollars. The bill is very apt 
to sweep off every vestage of good feeling, especially 
if some months chance to intervene between the ser- 
vices rendered, and the payment of the bill. This leads 
me to observe, that the compensation given to physi- 
cians, is usually inadequate to the services rendered. 
No bills are generally paid with so much reluctance as 
those of the physician ; and one great reason, (as I said,) 
why it is so, is, because they are usually left so long 
unsettled, and memory being so treacherous, the nature 
and the value of the services are forgotten. 

The extravagance of physicians' bills is proverbial ; 
and yet how few — how very few — die rich, or ever lay 
up any thing against a day of adversity ! No class of 
men deserve more to collect together a little heap of 
this world's provender, than physicians ; their labor is 
incessant ; night or day, rain or shine, sick or well, they 
must observe the beck of all who demand their services, 
be they rich or poor, bond or free, with a soul or without 
one ; not a day out of the seven, not an hour out of the 
twenty -four, can they call their own. If such a life does 
not deserve a rich compensation, no toil, or labor, or 
anxiety, does. 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XI 

My advice to you, then, is, remunerate your physician 
while gratitude feels warm, and before it is possible to 
forget the value of his services ; and I will engage his 
bill will more commonly be thought low and moderate, 
than high or extravagant. 



PREFACE 

TO THE LAST LONDON EDITION. 

It would be ungrateful not to acknowledge the candor 
with which the public have been pleased to receive this 
little volume, although it contains some doctrines re- 
pugnant to the present opinions : the honorary degree 
which a respectable university were pleased to confer 
upon the author as a token of their approbation, de- 
mands likewise his acknowledgment, and emboldens 
the doctor to hope th^ his observations are not entirely 
erroneous. 

With a view, then, to promote the happiness and 
comfort of his fellows-creatures, and to preserve helpless 
infants from their present almost certain destruction, 
Dr. Smith earnestly recommends the perusal of these 
letters to such persons as are likely to have a young 
family ; to those whose duty may require their attend- 
ance in a sick chamber ; and likewise to invalids. 

The maxims insisted on throughout are agreeable to 
the laws of nature ; and the author trusts that he has 
rendered them evident to common sense : they are the 
result of an assiduous attention to the duties of his pro- 
fession ; and it may with truth be added, that they have 
the further sanction of successful experience. 



XIV PREFACE, 



It is only necessary to observe, that the treatise, ac- 
cording to a promise, made some years ago, is dedica- 
ted to the ladies, under the title of " Letters to Married 
Ladies :" and as a familiar style is aimed at, it is pre- 
sumed that the digressions will not only be thought 
alloM^able, but even a relief to the subject itself, natu- 
rally dry and unentertaining. 

If the opinion with respect to those marks which are 
incident to children at their birth should be supposed chi- 
merical, yet the design, it is hoped, will prove a sufficient 
apology. Perhaps it may induce some others to pursue 
the inquiry, and thereby fully illustrate the fact ; in which 
case the author will give up his opinion, as freely as he 
now delivers it to the public. 

In considering my intended subjects, the familiar 
style of letter-writing appeared the most eligible ; and 
particularly, when I reflected upon the absurdity of 
using technical language, in an address to the ladies. 
The three first letters will not, I hope, be esteemed 
foreign to my purpose, as they seem to me altogether 
introductory to the design. I was induced to add the 
last letter, upon old age, in order to make the series of 
letters complete ; having now, in this collection, taken 
up man from the first period of his existence, and car- • 
ried him through the various stages of life. 

It being much to our present purpose, and intimately 
connected with the following letters, I shall transcribe 
a part of the introduction to a popular work, published 
about twelve months ago. 

^^ Experience in physic is the wisest patli to tread : 



PREFACE. 



XV 



and considering what poor crazy constitutions too many 
of the human race unhappily sustain, and the various 
disorders which even the most robust are Hable to, no 
one can be too particular in remarking such innocent 
remedies as may relieve slight indispositions, and con- 
sequently prevent terrible and fatal diseases. 

^^ Good nursing is a point which has either been too 
much neglected, or mistaken ; nevertheless, it is of the 
first consequence towards the cure of diseases, and the 
preserving of delicate and feeble constitutions. It is 
equally so to render advanced age easy and comfortable, 
and to preserve helpless infants. To speculative minds 
it must be" matter of astonishment to observe the fatality 
among children, which the following table of births and 
infant burials, collected from the bills of mortality, of the 
city of Dubhn, presents for their serious consideration. 



In 





Total number 


Barials under 


Burials under 




of births. 


5 years of age. 


2 years of age. 


1762 


15351 


10659 


8372 


1763 


15133 


11163 


8200 


1764 


.16801 


9699 


7673 


1765 


16374 


9948 


8073 


1766 "" 


16257 


10197 


8035 


1767 


16980 


9449 


7668 


1768 


16042 


10670 


8229 


1769 


16714 


10061 


8016 


1770 


17109 


10121 


7994 


1771 


17072 


9447 


7617 




10)162833 


10)101454 


10)79877 



16283 10145 

The average upon the last ten years. 



7987 



XVI PREFACE, 



" Thus we see that almost two thirds of the children 
born in that metropohs and its environs are totally lost 
to society : 16283 are, upon the average, the annual 
births ; 10145, the infant burials ; and, what deserves 
particular attention, 7987 are cut off before they are 
two years old, which is more than three fourths of those 
children who die under five years of age. How ardent- 
ly, therefore, is it to be wished that such a fatality could 
be prevented ! — It may be prevented. 

" Is it not affecting, that so many beings, just enter- 
ing into life, should be so untimely cut off, to the detri- 
ment of society, and the affliction of their weeping 
mothers ? It is, truly, a subject of commisseration, a 
scene which draws a silent tear from the eye of hu- 
manity, and pierces the wounded bosoms of afflicted 
parents. Above three fourths of these little innocents 
fall a sacrifice under two years old. It is well known, 
that the Thrush and Summer complaints generally ter- 
minate their existence in the early months ; and if they 
survive these maladies, the time of teething too fre- 
quently brings on the fatal catastrophe. 

'^ Could we but conquer the prejudices of the times, 
and abolish unnatural and absurd practices — could we 
but restore that natural and simple method of rearing 
children, which the All Wise Giver of life has suffi- 
ciently pointed out — did we but confine them to that 
nutriment, which he has prepared for their first state of 
existence — and consult that reason which he has be- 
stowed upon us, to conduct them forward — all would 
be well — But, alasl indolence and luxury forbid the 



PREFACE. XVli 



task ! Nevertheless, to the rational few the following 
remarks are submitted. 

" The Thrush and Summer complaints are, in the 
author's opinion, artificial diseases, and both of them 
usually occasioned by improper food ; such as all kinds 
of pap, whether made from flour, bread, or biscuit : 
they all cause too much fermentation in an infant's 
stomach, and irritate its tender bowels beyond what 
nature can support. This appears to him to be the 
evident cause of the before-mentioned complaints. 

" When infants are past this period, the danger in 
cutting their teeth is justly to be feared. This difficulty 
proceeds altogether from a weakness of constitution, 
arising from the same first mismanagement in point of 
diet : and here a train of dreadful symptoms present 
themselves ; the head, the stomach, the bowels, are all 
at times terribly affected ; a general wasting of the body 
frequently ensues ; and unconquerable fevers prevail, 
which generally terminate in convulsions and death. 

^^To prevent all these unhappy consequences,- let us 
but for a moment reflect that every mother is designed 
by nature to foster her own child. If the breast is not 
to be obtained,* cow's milk is in general to be preferred 
to any kind of food that can be invented, because it is 
nearly similar to that w^hich nature intended." 

I sincerely wish the hints thrown out in the following 
letters may be attended to ; as the success of rearing 
children, and the preserving infirm and aged constitu- 
tions, greatly depends upon good nursing ; much more 
indeed than it does upon the application of medicine. 



2* 



XVlll PREFACE. 



For although, by the medical art, many violent and dan- 
gerous diseases may oftentimes be prevented from pro- 
ving fatal ; yet, even when the doctor has taken his 
leave, the good nurse must still be vi^atchful, "to re- 
store again the invalid to a healthy and vigorous consti- 
tution." 

I was apprehensive that many objections would be 
started, both against my opinions and maxims ; which, 
indeed, was a leading motive for concealing my name 
in the first edition : but as I hope I have spoken with 
candor, and as I mean to persuade, rather than to find 
fault, it is to be wished, that the younger part of the 
female sex at leasts whom it more nearly concerns, will 
not receive this little present with such unconquerable 
prejudices, as would probably have been experienced 
from their grand-mothers. If, by addressing their un- 
derstanding, I should be happy enough to convince 
their judgment of the propriety of the following observa- 
tions, I trust they may prove in some measure beneficial 
both to themselves and their future daughters, in the 
exalted characters of wives and mothers. 

There is a certain respect due to our ancestors and 
their customs ; and, for my own part, ' I would never 
embrace new maxims or opinions, but upon full convic- 
tion of their claiming preference to old ones. Still it 
should be remembered, the mind was never designed 
for a state of slavery ; therefore, when once our reason 
is truly convinced of former errors, let the sanction for 
such mistakes be never so redoubtable, there is a glori- 
ous freedom inherent in human nature, that prompts a 



PREFACE. XIS 

generous mind to revoke erroneous opinions, and adopt, 
those systems, which, upon mature deliberation, shall 
appear more rational. And whenever the contrary 
disposition is discovered, it altogether shows a want of 
candor, and points out an obstinacy, not only culpable 
with respect to our private characters, but deserving of 
censure, as it regards society ; for such a temper tends 
to prohibit every kind of discovery, that may either im- 
prove our own knowledge, or benefit our fellow-crea- 
tures. 

All our knowledge with respect to infants, must be 
obtained from observation alone ; as no one ever pre- 
tended to remember those sensations and wants which 
he himself experienced in the earliest days of childhood ; 
therefore, a careful attendance is required in the nurse- 
ry. When infants are properly managed, there is but 
seldom an occasion for the help of medicine ; and 
should it be necessary to call in assistance of this kind, 
as they are totally incapable of relating their distress, it 
requires an accurate observation,* together with a cir- 
cumstantial account from the nurses who attend upon 
them, to enable a medical practitioner to form a right 
judgment of their diseases. 



LETTER I, 



OF 



MARKS. 



LETTER I. 

Of Marks — the imaginary consequences of* frights and longings, 
A candid inquiry into the merits of this doctrine. 

Prejudices, which have been imbibed in our early 
clays, received from those we esteem and reverence, 
and supported by the authority of past ages, must needs 
make impressions upon the most candid and ingenuous 
minds ; particularly when almost every day produces 
strange and wonderful stories to corroborate the sup- 
posed fact. 

The various blemishes frequently discovered upon 
children at the birth, have been generally considered as 
the effect of fright, or a disappointment of the mother's 
longings : and, indeed, this opinion has so far prevailed, 
that it has been, for a long time past, looked upon as 
incontestible. Should any one, therefore, presumptu- 
ously dare to deny this amazing pecuHarity in pregnant 
women, and the consequent effect upon the embryo, he 
must expect nothing less than the general censures of 
the female world. Besides, the many positive asser- 
tions upon this head, from the most sensible persons of 
undoubted veracity, will naturally lead a prudent man to 
speak with caution against the doctrine. Nevertheless, 
it surely cannot be improper to make a candid inquiry 
into so wonderfld a phenomenon. 



24 liETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

It is a subject by far the most interesting to the la- 
dies : it comes, indeed, particularly under their cogni- 
zance : for the dreaded evil affects the fair sex much 
more essentially than it does ours.* With my female 
friends, therefore, I beg leave to discuss this important 
point. 

It is by every one allowed, to the honor of this na- 
tion, (and let particular commendation be given to the 
daughters of Great Britain themselves,) that in the edu- 
cation of young women, learning, and the polite improve- 
ments, are much more attended to in this age than 
formerly ; accomplishments which not only render their 
manners more engaging, but qualify them .likewise for 
the happy domestic life ; and contribute muchto adorn 
these amiable and sweetly-endearing companions of the 
social hour. How essentially necessary is such a friend, 
to make life comfortable and happy. t 

What a lustre does every good and accomplished wo- 
man add to the matrimonial state 1 — She must by every 
reasonable man be considered not only as the partner 
of his bed, but of his very soul. 

I can at this time readily call to mind many such ex- 
alted characters, to whom in a most particular manner 
I now address myself: — women, whose enlarged minds 
are capable of a much greater depth of reasoning than 
these speculations will afford ; and in whose company I 
have oftentimes enjoyed the happiness of friendly con- 
versation^ — with whom, upon different occasions, I have, 

* See Note 1, f See Note 2. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 25 

in part, entered into the subject of this, and the follow- 
ing letters. It is, indeed, at the request of several of 
these ray worthy female friends, that I have beqn in- 
duced to collect ray thoughts, in order to give them to 
the public. 

Ignorance, my fair readers, is the parent of credulity 
and superstition. Knowledge is the conqueror that 
triuraphs over such terrible foes. How much is the 
understanding enlightened and improved by the use of 
letters! When, therefore, we consider that the art^f 
printing was not discovered until the fifteenth century, 
and it was a long time after that before it became uni- 
versal in Europe, we shall not greatly wonder at the 
bigotry and rudeness of manners in our ancestors ; and 
we shall cease to reflect upon those credulous times. 

To the score of ignorance we are to place the many 
and hideous stories which have been formerly related of 
apparitions, goblins, and witches, that have at times in- 
fested different parts of Europe ; and even in England 
have claimed the attention of civil and ecclesiastical 
power : instances of which are to be found in our 
history. 

At this period I believe there are but few who give 
credit to such romances. The Spectator and his co- 
temporaries pretty well cleared the country of witches. 
AlS to ghosts, the last that made its appearance was the 
notorious Fanny of Cock-lane ; and this arch spirit was 
effectually laid, as it is called, in a court of justice ; 
where the gentlemen of the law carefully collected her 
ashes, and, like alchemists, turned them into gold ; so 

3 



^6 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



that there is no fear of any more spirits rising from her 
urn. 

We are now fully convinced of the ridiculous fallacy 
of such bugbears ; and at this time there is scarcely a 
female but can enjoy, without one dreadful apprehen- 
sion, a cool and silent walk by moonlight : a pleasure 
their mothers could hardly be persuaded to partake of; 
for, not longer than half a century ago, if a dauntless 
virgin had thus presumptuously ventured, the affrighted 
parents would have been apprehensive for their daugh- 
ter, lest she should, some time or another, be punished 
for such impious audacity. 

Thus we see prodigies and wonders daily vanishing, 
in proportion as hterary knowledge, and the general 
improvement of the understanding, are cultivated. 

To some future season, perhaps, we must postpone 
the elucidation of marks, the supposed consequences of 
frights and longings : yet, if this matter should be a 
subject of dispute with the ladies for the present, I 
doubt not that a little time and candid observation will 
commit the very idea of such romantic opinions, toge- 
ther with that of frights, and every other superstitious 
error, to eternal oblivion. 

A fright is generally believed to have the same un- 
lucky effect upon pregnant women, as a disappointment 
of their wishes will produce. Hence they are perpetu- 
ally racked between hope and fear, to the torment of 
themselves, and every body about them ; and are some- 
times so extravagant with regard to a wish or longing, 
as not to be satisfied but at an immense expense : for 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 27 

we have heard that these strange cravings are not alto- 
gether confined to the palate ; they sometimes extend 
themselves to equipage, jewels, dress, baubles, &c. As 
a proof that such chimerical notions even at this time 
prevail, the reader is desired to attend to the following 
relation. 

Since the first edition of this work went to the press, 
the author happened to dine, in company with a lady in 
the family way totally free from prejudice, at the house 
of an intimate female friend, who has a heart truly good 
and sympathetic. Her teeiping visitor took notice of a 
toy ; it was a pigeon-house made of Staffordshire ware, 
and in a baby-house would appear a proper ornament : 
yet the forebodings of this good matron, lest her fi*iend 
should have entertained a longing for it, operated so 
strongly, that she kindly ordered it to be put into her 
visitor's carriage. The lady strongly objected to it, but 
to no purpose ; insomuch that she was obhged to take 
the pigeon-house home. 

But not to dwell upon such like particulars, which, 
nevertheless, have been fi-equently introduced in support 
of whimsical desires, and which are continually magni- 
fied in the relation, we shall confine our remarks to the 
general manner in which this magic operates. 

As I have universally been thought an infidel in mat- 
ters of this kind, the ladies have treated me accordingly ; 
nay, frequently, when I have begged quarter, it has 
been cruelly denied me ; which cautions me at this 
time to be modestly humble and diffident. I shall assert 



28 LETTERS TO MAKRIEB LADIES. 

nothing ; but by fair and impartial inquiry endeavor to 
search out the truth. 

In consequence of my supposed want of faith in these 
affairs, there is scarcely a female I am acquainted with, 
who does not treasure up every surprising story^ of this 
kind that she hears, to tell it me with all the advantages 
that a persuasive tongue can give, in order to bring 
about my conversion. 

I verily believe, that, by the assistance of these my 
good friends, I could furnish a large folio volume of 
such histories. It is a spacious field for the fancy to 
rove in. A variety of preternatural marks in living 
persons may be produced every day : nor can the ex- 
istence of these extraordinary appearances be denied ; 
for that is incontestible, as every one can vouch. The 
true cause of such wonders, therefore, is the subject of 
our pursuit. 

In the first place, I shall make bold to declare, that I 
never met with one of those blemishes which altogether 
struck my fancy with respect even to the imaginary 
likeness ; or which, as to the supposed cause, engaged 
my rational confidence. 

I have been showed a mark that was compared to 
the rhind of bacon, and told a strange story of the mo- 
ther's longing for a gammon. I fancied it to be like 
the tinge of a mulatto, and congratulated the parents 
that it was not altogether swarthy. 

A lady of my acquaintance has oftentimes declared 



* See Note 3. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 29 



that she is marked with a perfect pig ; but I never could 
obtain the sight of this rarity, it not being conveniently 
situated for public inspection. A little while ago, I 
was in company with her mother, an elderly woman, 
and quite a stout champion, as I found, for marks and 
blemishes, in consequence of frights and longings. 
Upon a particular inquiry, it appeared that she was un- 
acquainted with the accident, until some considerable 
time after the birth ; and then, from the appearance of 
the mark, she very well remembered the occasion of it 
— w^hich was this. When she was very near her time, 
her husband and self w^ere invited to the house of a 
relation, bving at some distance, who, she knew, had 
some very fine sucking pigs. They both thought the 
ride would be too much for her ; but she recollects her 
having said, that she would go at all events, if she was 
sure they w^ould dress one of the pigs for dinner. How- 
ever, the husband went alone, and returned in the eve- 
ning with a quarter of a pig that had been dressed on 
purpose for their dinner, her relation knowing she w^as 
fond of it. But, alas! as her evil genius would have it, 
ivhen she sat down to supper, she could eat but very 
little ; and at that time unluckily rubbed the part with 
her hand, where her daughter is marked, which she is 
very certain, occasioned the form of a pig. I asked 
her how the child could be marked, since she had her 
desire ? No matter for that, answered she : though I 
had the pig, the child to be sure must be marked ; 
because I longed for it nice and hot, with good plum 
sauce and gravy, but was obliged to eat it cold. We 

3* 



30 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

all laughed heartily at the conclusion, though, as the 
reader may judge, from different motives ; but the old 
lady thought she had obtained a complete victory. 

I have given this little history, to show the absurd 
manner in which these things are usually accounted for. 
It will be also proper in this place to remark the noto* 
rious dissimilarity* between such blemishes and their 
supposed originals. We are to take notice, likewise, 
of the ease with which the fancy is imposed upon, or 
imposes on itself in such cases, even to infatuation ; 
magnifying the most trifling conjectures into the strong- 
est confirmations. How often do women rack their 
minds, to find out the origin of these marks 1 which 
evidently proceeds from their aversion to be thought 
capable of producing an offspring with any imperfec- 
tions ; and their servants and nurses, considering it 
actually as their business, are always ready to help them 
out upon these occasions. 

Fruit, wine, boiled lobsters, fresh salmon, and such 
like things of a red color, are the most common marks ; 
and there is scarcely a family in the kingdom, but some 
one or more of them can produce instances of this sort. 

These strange effects, we are told, not only happen 
to the human race, but also, how wonderful to relate ! 
—to brutes. There is a worthy family, whose veracity 
is not to be doubted, that are firmly persuaded of the 
following fact ; of which they were all spectators. I 

^ See Note 4. 



LETTERS TO MARniED LADIES. 



shall deliver the account, as nearly as possible, in the 
lady's words, who favored me with the relation. 

Her father's favorite cat happened to produce a kit- 
ten, which, to the surprise of all the family, was marked 
on the back with a rat. As the kitten grew, the rat 
increased likewise ; till, at the end of some months, it 
dropped off the kitten, quite perfect in its form ; — and 
the lady had it in her own hand. I was questioned, 
very particularly, whether I could any longer doubt the 
consequences of longings and frights, since it even ex- 
tended to brutes — -for, continued she, what could be the 
cause of this, but the creature being disappointed of 
some rat she was pursuing ? 

Thus closely pressed, I begged her yet to pardon my 
want of belief. As to the cause, I was silent about it ; 
that there was a substance upon the kitten, which fell 
off, as related, I had no doubt. What then could I 
doubt? — That their own imaginations deceived them. 
How was that possible ? — Much more so than they 
were aware of. Where is the rat, madam ? Thrown 
away long ago. That is unlucky ; for, had I seen it, 
probably it might have struck me as resembling an owl, 
or some other thing altogether as extravagant. It was 
downright obstinacy in me ; for I would not believe 
any thing. I further said, had it been a rat, I thought 
she would have wanted courage to touch it — even sup- 
posing it to be dead ; and had it been alive, it would 
certainly have run away, and prevented her. This 
pleasantry abated somewhat of the earnestness of our 



32 lETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



argument ; and a laugh made us very good friends— but 
I was an incredulous man. 

I have heard of a woman surprised in the street, 
when she was very near her time, by a person with a 
withered arm : upon her return home, the fright threw 
her into labor, and she was delivered of a child with a 
withered arm. How can we possibly believe such an 
immediate effect as this to be produced ? — Is it to be 
credited, that the mother's terror should instantly blast 
the arm of the child, thus rendering it similar to the 
object of horror ? 

And if this be rejected, how can we allow the total 
loss of a limb from a similar cause ? — Could it be anni- 
hilated ? This no one will assert. If not, supposing 
the effect to take place, and the arm or the leg should 
be separated from the body, what becomes of it ? Such 
divided part is never to be found upon these occasions. 
On the contrary, where there is an addition to the form, 
proceeding also, as we are told, from fright ; such, for 
instance, as a toe or finger extraordinary, an arm or a 
leg ; in the name of wonder, from what source can those 
exuberances be so immediately produced ? Is it not 
astonishing, that such credulous infatuations should 
thus beguile our reason ? 

Not to trouble my fair readers with any more of these 
relations, which, by prejudiced persons, are accounted 
undeniable, I shall just mention a few facts for the con- 
sideration of the candid. 

A lady of my particular acquaintance, during the 
Cime of gestation, was unfortunately overturned in a 



liETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 33 

coach ; by which accident, as she endeavored to get 
out, the first joint of her second finger was entirely 
broken off. This was an alarming circumstance to all 
her friends, and the dreadful apprehensions of the child's 
being born a cripple disturbed every one ; but, to the 
great astonishment of her acquaintance, she was deli- 
vered of a fine and perfect boy. 

An eminent practitioner relates a story to this effect, 
which is equally to be credited, as happening under his 
own observation. 

A lady of quality being in convulsions, the family 
sent for the doctor in great haste. He found her upon 
the bed, extremely ill indeed. When her ladyship came 
a little to herself, she cried out, The black cat! the 
black cat ! — her well known particular aversion to this 
domestic animal seemed to point out the cause of the 
disaster, of which till now they were entirely ignorant ; 
and the servants diligently searched for the object ; 
when in a tub, placed to receive the rain-water near 
her ladyship's dressing-room window, poor puss was 
discovered. 

This sight so terribly affected the lady, that her fears 
were ever uppermost, and she was miserable until the 
time of her delivery. Neither could her friends pacify 
her, nor the arguments of so able a man as her physi- 
cian bring her to reason. Notwithstanding all they 
could say, she was fully persuaded her child's face 
would be like this black cat's. At length Lucina 
smiled propitious on its birth ; and her ladyship's ap- 
prehension's vanished, upon being brought to bed of a 



34 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

lovely boy, without either mark or blemish of cat or 
skin. 

Just about the same time, it happened that the same 
gentleman attended another lady in her confinement of 
a boy also. The boy had a small darkish spot upon 
the forehead. He was curious enough to interrogate 
the mother about it, and she most ingenuously declared, 
that she was neither sensible of any fright or longing 
during the whole time of her gestation. 

Had this blemish happened to the child of the noble 
parent, the doctor truly observes, the black cat would 
undoubtedly have occasioned a remark£lble anecdote in 
the history of her ladyship's house ; — for, by all her 
family and friends, it would have been looked upon as 
an incontestible proof of these prodigies ; and, give me 
leave to add, with much more seeming plausibility, too, 
than the generahty of these stories can boast ; because 
the lady had declared her apprehensions at the time of 
the supposed injury. 

I shall here add another instance of an apprehension 
altogether as fruitless, as that of the noble lady. It was 
made known to me, in consequence of reading the 
above to a particular friend, who immediately replied, 
that he was under great anxiety for his wife, upon ac- 
count of her being terrified at the sight of a person who 
had a very unhappy blemish on her face. The wife of 
this gentleman, by chance going to St. Paul's church, 
was placed in a stall exactly opposite to the unfortunate 
object, which affected her so much, that her devotion 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 35 

was entirely lost ; and she talked of this poor woman 
continually after she left the church. 

In a few weeks this lady went again to St. Paul's, 
and was unluckily placed opposite the same person ; 
which so distressed her, that she dared not venture 
there any more. Surely this is as striking an instance 
as we can suppose. I told my friend I was glad he 
acquainted me of it before his wife was confined, and 
that I should pay great attention to the consequence ; 
but at the same time desired he would endeavor -to 
make both himself and wife very easy, assuring him, on 
the observation of myself and others, how little room 
there was to be under any dismal apprehension on this 
account. To finish the story, his wife was soon deli- 
vered of a fine and perfect child. Since which, this 
lady has declared her apprehensions so terrified her, 
that she dared not to look at the child, till she collected 
from the conversation of her attendants, that the boy's 
face was free from blemish. What a cruel suspense 
and painful sufferance must this have been to a mo- 
ther !^ 

Not long ago I was in the chamber of a lady newly 
delivered : her mother being present, took me to the 
window, and in great distress acquainted me the child 
had a large mark upon the right side of its face ; that 
she was terrified at the thoughts of breaking it to her 
daughter, and begged me to acquaint her of it. Ac- 
cordingly, after congratulating my patient upon her own 

"^ See Note 5. 



36 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

health and a fine child, in the course of conversation, I 
jocosely told her that we were at a loss to account for a 
pretty spot upon the child's face, and must desire her to 
inform us of the occasion of it. After a very minute 
recollection, she frankly confessed she did not remem- 
ber any one thing that she longed for during her preg- 
nancy, neither could she any how account for the 
accident. 

A variety of other circumstances might be enumera- 
ted, to discredit, though many stories are related to 
confirm, this wonderful affair. I shall not, however, 
introduce further particulars, though divers have hap- 
pened within my notice ; but conclude this letter with 
remarking, that in every instance before related, where 
the misfortune of a blemish was apprehended, it did not 
happen ; and in the other cases, where marks appeared, 
they were entirely unexpected, and the cause of them 
totally unknown to the mothers ; which, I may venture 
to say, has always been the case. If, therefore, women 
would wish to be credited in these stories of frights and 
longings, let them declare, before they are delivered, 
like the two ladies mentioned in this letter, that they 
have marked the child, and made known the cause of it. 
Nothing less can prove this fact ; and, till then, even 
the possibiUty of it may very reasonably be doubted ; for 
surely we may conclude that so remarkable an effect of 
sympathy can never take place, without the immediate 
and most certain knowledije of the mother. 



LETTER II, 



OF 



MARKS 



LETTER II. 

0/ Marks — showing that such blemishes may happen independently 
of the mother s imagination. 

As to longings, I doubt not but every person must have 
been sensible of such inchnations. I can answer for 
myself, that when indisposed, and my stomach rather 
weak, I have many times suffered not a little, in being- 
disappointed of a thing that seemed particularly to strike 
my fancy : surely I may be allowed to say, that the 
prejudices of female education are likely to encourage 
such inclinations to a much greater degree in pregnant 
women, whose appetites are usually weak and fanciful ; 
and, as it is the case in every passion when too extrava- 
gantly indulged, I take it for granted, ladies may be 
sometimes very much hurt by such a disappointment, 
independently of superstitious, tormenting apprehen- 
sions. 

I would wish to arm every female breast with the 
resolution necessary for her own happiness. Yet I do 
not deny but upon a thousand occasions the ladies 
suffer, unavoidably as it were, from fear ; and mate- 
rially so in the present instance. 

Women, from the delicacy of their frame, and the 
particular mode of education in polite countries, are, 
without doubt, much more under the dominion of fear 



40 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

than men, who are continually spurred on by custom 
and vigor to exert their courage. This renders a 
variety of objects, although terrible to the fair sex, so 
familiar to ours, that contempt alone is oftentimes a 
security against many such horrible intruders. 

We confess, then, that women are exceedingly sub- 
ject to fear : it is also granted, that, in things they long 
for, they may be painfully disappointed. It is not de- 
nied but that there are oftentimes very extraordinary 
appearances at the birth, which the fancy likens to a 
variety of things ; but it does not therefore follow, that 
we are bound to believe such marks or blemishes to be 
the effect of fright, or the consequences of a parent's 
disappointment. 

In the first letter, we gave several relations on both 
sides of the question : I shall now beg leave to propose 
a few queries, which, if allowed, in my opinion, seem 
in part to account for these extraordinary appearances ; 
and what cannot be illustrated upon a rational inquiry, 
why may we not suppose to proceed from hidden acci- 
dental causes in the operations of nature ? Since ex- 
crescences upon trees, plants, and indeed blemishes on 
almost every kind of animals, (of which daily expe- 
rience will convince a common observer,) seem strongly 
to authorise such a conjecture ; I say^ why may we not 
suppose this to be the true reason, without the assist- 
ance of a wonder-working imagination ? 

Will not an inflammation upon the eye frequently 
produce an universal redness over that part which 
otherwise appears beautifully white ? 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 41 

What is the cause of this surprising alteration? 

Must not there ever have been a fluid circulating in 
those tender vessels ? — And must not that fluid be, ne- 
cessarily, limpid ? 

Are not those vessels, therefore, unless injured, too 
small to admit the sanguinary fluid in its compact and 
red state ? 

And does it not evidently appear, that they must be 
considerably distended, before the red blood can be ad- 
mitted, which denotes this inflammation ? 

Save where the virgin blush brings the blood into the 
cheek, or the rosy colored nymph rivals our courtly 
beauties ; — does not the whiteness of the skin, in almost 
every part of the body, plainly show that its vessels 
equally deny the admission of this red fluid ? 

We are told, by curious inquirers, that, for several 
months after conception, the embryo receives its sup- 
port from a limpid fluid, and that the form itself is 
nearly limpid, or colorless. 

If so, are not the vessels of an unborn child, as it 
arrives nearer to the birth, gradually enlarged, so as in 
the proper parts to give admission to this red sanguinary 
•fluid ? 

May not, therefore, some accidental pressure — the 
violence of a sudden jolt — or the shock received by a 
false step or a fall, with a variety of other casualties,* 
convey such an injury to the tender embryo, as upon 
some part of the skin to occasion a similar efiect to 
that of the eye ? 

-i" See Note 6. 
4^' 



42 LETTEKS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

Do we not oftentimes observe inflammations in the 
eye to be in a manner habitual ? 

Why may we not then suppose these delicate vessels, 
when thus distended,'to be so oppressed by the particles 
of the fluid which rush into them, as never more to be 
able to recover their natural size ? 

Hence these parts, and these parts only, giving ad- 
mission to the red blood — is it not probable that they 
may assume the various forms, which in various infants 
are imagined to resemble so many different things ? 

The cure of the before mentioned inflammation of 
the eye, frequently depends, not upon bleeding, but 
upon constringing the vessels, and restoring them to 
their original state, so that they again only admit their 
proper limpid fluids ; and perhaps, if astringent applica- 
tions were used at the birth, w^here a strong pressure 
could be made upon the particular part, many of these 
blemishes might, in a great measure, if not altogether, 
be removed. 

Such are our conjectures on the cause of those marks 
which are totally of, or approaching to, a red color. 
But there are other blemishes, which, at first sight, my 
readers may take for granted cannot be accounted for 
by this way of reasoning ; such, for instance, as appear 
to be of a light and dark brown, of a chocolate and 
black color. Nevertheless, ladies, let us candidly pro- 
ceed. 

A blow sometimes stains the skin yellow ; if the part 
be much bruised, the tinge is deeper, and frequently 
hirns quite black. A curious observer must have no- 



LETTERS TO MAERIED LADIES. 43 

ticed, in those persons who, from violent blows, have 
received such contusions as are vulgarly called black 
eyes, that the skin, before it returns to its natural color, 
assumes a great variety of different hues ; all proceed- 
ing from the same first cause. Is it not then probable, 
that some such accident happening to an unborn child, 
may produce a similar effect ? This perhaps will be 
allowed : but why then should such blemishes continue 
in children, since they usually disappear in the case be- 
fore mentioned ? However, to proceed in the inquiry : 
Such effects being admitted, their permanency, then, is 
the difficulty to be overcome. Let us consider, that, 
although in mature life, the constitution has generally 
strength sufficient to repel most accidents, not instantly 
mortal, yet in childhood, and old age, the powers of the 
body are overcome by very slight injuries. In the meri- 
dian of fife, those parts of the body, which are disfigured 
by accidents, most commonly recover themselves ; ne- 
vertheless, many instances are to be produced, even in 
adults, where the skin contiiiues discolored. Bruises 
and other injuries upon the skin, particularly in feeble 
constitutions, frequently occasion marks that never dis- 
appear. The same is likewise observed upon the legs 
of those who are accustomed to sit too near the fire, in 
which case we say they have burnt their shins ; and old 
sores generally leave such marks. I have seen many of 
these lasting blemishes. My readers probably recollect 
the fact, and also that such injured parts assume a 
variety of colors ; black, red, brown, motley, &.C., much 



44 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

resembling those which are supposed to proceed from 
the force of imagination. 

Since, therefore, we find such like appearances are 
sometimes permanent in the different periods of life, 
what can be said to disprove their continuance in in- 
fants, when supposed to happen either before or at the 
time of delivery ? For surely we may conclude, the 
more delicate the form is, it Avill prove the more sus- 
ceptible of injuries, and those injuries will last the long- 
er ; the tender vessels, in such cases, not being so able 
to recover themselves. And as we 'often find it to be 
so in the feebleness of age, and in a variety of other in- 
stances — why may we not in the tender embryo also 
suppose these blemishes sometimes to remain, and be 
durable ? 

But if you think the above reasoning not sufl[iciently 
plausible, let us consider the difference of complexion 
in different persons of this country — but principally the 
different colors of Europeans and Africans : and since 
we find afpearances so diametrically opposite in the 
skins of persons, why may not the same contrast in 
some measure take place in the skin of one and the 
same person, through a kind of error in nature from her 
intended scope ? 

Nay, do not those blemishes called freckles, and more 
especially moles, which frequently make their first ap- 
pearance in advanced life, and are often covered with 
hairs — I say, do not these, with the common excrescen- 
ces of warts, &c. show us how easily most of the differ- 
ent colors and appearances may be produced at any 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 45 

age ? And though the cause of these is full as little 
known as the matter under present consideration, was 
the effect ever deemed miraculous ?^ 

Now is it to be wondered at, if these sportings of 
nature should bear a resemblance to some one or other 
of the vast variety of objects in the animal or vegetable 
creation ? 

Or in fact, if -they bear no such real resemblance, 
cannot the imagination readily suppose they do ; in like 
manner as, when looking upon the clouds, we easily 
discern men, horses, trees, forests, flocks of sheep, ar- 
mies, and indeed every thing which the most fruitful 
invention can form ? 

Some further rational conjectures might be added ; 
but they would probably in this place be considered as 
too technical for the generality of my readers : I shall, 
therefore, wave them at present ; for I think there has 
been already enough said upon this subject, to check, 
at least, if not entirely to subdue, these reigning infatua- 
tions. 

Now if the doctrine of marks, in consequence of 
frights and longings, should prove to be nothing more 
than prejudice, ladies will avoid the continual distress 
which, in these circumstances, they labor under ; for 
sorry am I to say it, but at present it seems as fashiona- 
ble to cultivate such dispositions in young married wo« 
men, as to recommend matrimony itself. 

On the other hand, supposing all that has been ad- 
vanced should prove to be chimerical ; the removing of 



* See Note 



46 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



the apprehension, by which I mean the foreboding fears 
of the mother, will be to remove the greatest part of the 
evil ; and surely it is time enough at the birth to discern 
an imperfection. This, indeed, is a point which the 
strongest advocates for the force of imagination must 
not only allow, but likewise approve of its tendency ; 
since fortitude is the only preventative, according to 
their favorite system, against the miserable consequen- 
ces of frights, and disappointed longings : for if such a 
degree of courage can be obtained, as will prevent fear, 
and such a degree of resolution maintained, as will pre- 
vent the mind being hurt, upon any casual disappoint- 
ment of the inclination, the evil itself is at once reme- 
died ; because the imagination will never painfully dwell 
either upon objects of disgust or inclination ; and con- 
sequently blemishes can never happen from such causes. 
I trust that my attentive and intelligent readers will 
not be displeased with the discussion of this very inte- 
resting subject,^ 

^ See ^^te 8. 



LETTER III 



OF 



MISCARRIAGES 



LETTER III. 

Of Miscarriages, 

We are now, my dear ladies, entering upon a subject 
which requires some circumspection, to divide the pro- 
vince of the physician from the advice of a friend. 

There are, undoubtedly, constitutional errors which 
oftentimes prevent women from becoming joyful mo- 
thers ; and they may be hindered also by accidental cir- 
cumstances. Both these considerations, however, be- 
long to the physician. In a word, therefore, these di- 
rections do not extend to such remote causes ; my 
counsels at present being designed to assist you in your 
own sphere. 

The desire of children is evidently predominant in al- 
most every female disposition : it must be certainly ow- 
ing to the wise ordination of Providence, that their edu- 
cation is so admirably calculated to encourage this fond- 
ness. How engaging are the childish amusements of a 
daughter ! — Let us picture an innocent little girl fondly 
caressing a waxen image, dressing and undressing it 
with all the pomp and importance of a tender mother. 
What a delightful employment ! — how amiable does the 
child herself appear ! — and so endearing is this female 
province, that it is justly remarked to grow up with the 
sex into life. 

5 



60 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

I have, with inexpressible pleasure, seen many young 
ladies, women grown, happily amusing themselves at 
their younger sister's baby-house, and often discovered 
a crimson blush, that genuine mark of female modesty, 
arising from their being somewhat confused in suffering 
themselves to be thus unexpectedly surprised. 

There are, indeed, some persons who have declared 
an aversion to children. I have painfully suffered from 
the enumeration of the difficulties and inconveniences 
which they describe parents to labor under, who have 
the care of a little family. Selfish and unsocial con- 
siderations ! 

God has universally manifested, that the whole human 
race are dependent upon one another ; and those per- 
sons, who think and act thus narrowly, can neither be 
accounted good characters in themselves, nor worthy 
members with respect to society. But, alas ! they are 
strangers to the feelings of parental fondness. 

Certain I am, that, if it be your good fortune to be- 
come happy mothers, your children, those dear pledges 
of love, if prudently educated, prove not only an en- 
gaging comfort to yourselves, but a great and lasting 
security for the affections of your husbands. Trust me, 
there is a time when the charms of beauty must cease, 
and the passions of youth bend to the majesty of wis- 
dom : — 'tis then good nature and good sense, with that 
essential ingredient, a cheerful disposition,* will, in a 
great measure, secure your conquest ; and a charming 

=*' See Note*9. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 61 

offspring will assuredly contribute to unite parents in the 
lasting bonds of friendship. 

How desirable, therefore, are children !^ Even po- 
verty itself does not prevent the sanguine wish for them. 
Let us then endeavor to promote their safe and happy 
increase. 

The difference of constitution in women is an impor- 
tant affair : there are some who upon every trifling 
occasion are subject to miscarriages — others, again, 
who, in spite of the most direct and powerful means, 
are often compelled to bear the token of unwarrantable 
amours ; and there are instances even of married wo- 
men, who, not supposing themselves in the family way, 
have been treated in the most likely manner to bring 
about an abortion — but all in vain. A remarkable story 
of this kind occurs to my memory, which I relate from 
my own knowledge. 

An honest laboring man and his wife lived together 
many years without having children ; and they both 
were beyond the meridian of life, when the poor woman 
was supposed to be afflicted with a dropsy, t From time 
to time she advised with several eminent physicians, who, 
from her appearance and the account she gave, treated 
her as dropsical ; administering the most powerful re- 
medies against that disorder. 

At length she grew so corpulent, that all hopes of a 
cure were given over, and the operation of tapping was 
recommended. The husband's circumstances being 



^^ See Note 10. i See Note IL 



52 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

narrow, and the expense of this illness putting it out of 
his power to employ a surgeon, the poor woman was 
advised to go into the hospital : this, however, she re- 
fused. 

A week or two after this, the husband called, with a 
most joyful countenance, to inform me his wife was 
brought to hed^ and that both the mother and child were 
likely to do well. I was at that time very young ; but 
my reflections upon the oddity of the event, determined 
me to be always very particular in the examination of 
dropsical female patients. 

Thus we see in this woman, and in a variety of other 
cases, where impious efforts have been used to promote 
a miscarriage, that nature, in spite of great violence, 
sometimes will not be interrupted. 

Let us then aim at assisting her in this great work, 
where the constitution appears not able to go through 
with it ; and point out the most rational means to pre- 
vent abortion. 

Our first letter, over and above the inquiry concerning 
marks, longings and frights, greatly tends to this mate- 
rial end. Women of a delicate form, and too great 
sensibihty, are the most liable to miscarry :* such also 
are the most likely to imbibe, and to be affected by, the 
prejudices we there wished to caution them against. 
The power of fear is undoubtedly sovereign over most 
persons; and this, as it frequently occasions miscar- 
riages, is truly to be dreaded. If, therefore, the preju- 

* See Note 13. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



dices were discountenanced, the unhappy fear itself 
would assuredly cease. 

And further, there is nothing tends more to render 
life happy, either to men or women, than to conquer, as 
much as possible, the passion of fear. This is the mon- 
ster, which in some degree subdues us all, and too fre- 
quently makes mankind miserable. There is no calami- 
ty but would easily become supportable, could we divest 
ourselves of fear ; and daily experience proves women 
to be mott subject to its tortures. How many trifling 
insects, that a man continually spurns from hhn, ruffle 
the breast of females, and throw them into the greatest 
agonies !* 

The evil, therefore, is seated in the imagination ; for 
it is the dreadful apprehension of their own mind that 
torments them ; which, by a firm and steady resolution, 
may generally be overcome. Fortitude is an inestima- 
ble jewel. 

However difficult the task appears, the earliest and 
strongest prejudices may commonly be conquered.! I 
am sensible, that sometimes it wdll require great pains, 
and never can be done but by the strength of reason. 
Would you, my very susceptible friends, follow my ad- 
vice on this subject, a thousand accidents might be 
avoided, that hourly happen to you upon this, and many 
other occasions. 

Reason was bestowed upon us, both for the preserva- 
tion of our health, and the promotion of our happiness. 



* See Note 14. t See Note 15. 

5* 



54 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

The abuse of it as necessarily destroys the one as the 
other. 

How do we continually reflect upon ourselves for in- 
conveniences, mental as well as corporeal, that arise 
from inconsiderateness and folly ? Believe me, ladies, 
miscarriages are frequently brought about by impru- 
dence. When a wife has the pleasing prospect of be- 
coming a mother, it is no longer a time to be revelling 
in midnight assembhes. Such a conduct not only de- 
prives her of her natural rest, but also endangers her 
health, and thereby oftentimes promotes this dreaded 
evil.* 

In this, and every other point, I beg leave to caution 
you against falling into wide extremes. Some ladies I 
have seen, madly running up and down, and jumbhng 
all the town over, in the most jolting hackney-coach 
that could be procured ; and, although at the same time 
they complain of being shaken to pieces, yet this they 
say, is to prevent the accident. Others never step out 
of doors, nay, nor so much as go up and down a pair of 
stairs, for several months : this also is to avoid the dan- 
ger. 

Again, let me warn you of both extremes. Be this 
your guide — whatever exercise you are capable of taking 
without fatigue, indulge — but no more.t Never, in this 
point, regard the example of others. Because your 
friend can do this and that, it is no reason you should ; 

II . I . _■! II I . ■ I ' ^ 

-1= See Note 16. t See Note 17. 



LETTERS TO MAHRIED LADIES. OO 

and if the attempt gives pain, it should certainly be 
avoided. 

I need not caution the present age against the perni- 
cious custom of lacing too tightly ; for a lass of fifteen, 
in the dress of our times, would in the last age have 
been supposed to be only in dishabille. 

I do not mean to condemn, but to praise the ladies for 
giving themselves room in the waist ; nevertheless, ex- 
tremes, you know, are not advised. There is a certain 
medium in every part of life, which is the je-ne-sais-quoi 
that constitutes the agreeable. 

It is as uncommon now to see a young girl crooked, 
as it formerly was to see one perfectly straight. I be- 
lieve no one denies that their shapes were greatly in- 
jured by the stiffness of their stays, and by being laced 
so exceedingly close. This pernicious custom was fre- 
quently the cause of a bad state of health, and threw 
many young women into consumptions. We now rare- 
ly see ladies fainting in public places ; but when they did 
not allow themselves room to breathe, it happened every 
day.* This prudent alteration, therefore, so serviceable 
to maidens, is still more necessary for married wo- 
men.! 

There is another caution at this time to be observed. 
I have frequently beheld, with pain, divers ladies too apt 
to be lifting and playing with heavy children : there are 



^ It is to be hoped the ladies will not again lace themselves up^ 
to display fine shapes ; the author, however, wishes to warn thejg^ 
against so pernicious a fashion. 

t See Note IS. 



66 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

certain sympathetic emotions, altogether natural and 
laudable, which prompt them to it ; and far be it from 
my thoughts to deprive them of so tender and ge- 
nerous a gratification : nevertheless, to see a delicate 
little form, very near her confinement, stop a bouncing 
boy, and catch him in her arms, is really an alarming 
sight ; many miscarriages happen from such inconsider- 
ateness ; and, if our conjectures are not wrong, many 
blemishes also by these means are probably occasioned. 

But there is a practice indiscriminately used, even to 
this day, worse than all the rest ; and that is, bleeding.* 
Whether a woman be robust or weakly, if she is preg- 
nant, she must be bled. Has she any pains ? No mat- 
ter. Is she in health ? Yes. But she must lose blood. 
Why ? Because she is with child. Her mother always 
did it, and her grandmother, aye, and her great-grand- 
mother too, time out of mind ; and therefore can the 
propriety of it be doubted ? — These are the general ar- 
guments used by women in favor of bleeding, when they 
are in perfect health : but if any slight indisposition 
happens, be it ever so foreign to their particular situa- 
tions, and which, perhaps, at another time, would pass 
unnoticed, dreadful consequences are apprehended, if 
they are not bled : nay, indeed those little temporary in- 
conveniences which generally and unavoidably attend 
advanced pregnancy, in their mistaken opinions, call 
aloud for bleeding. 

In our two former letters, we took notice of the diffi- 



* See Note 19. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 67 

culty that attends rooting out fixed and prevailing preju- 
dices ; and I am apprehensive that this is as deeply seat- 
ed in the minds of women, as those of which we there 
treated. However, let us ask the assistance of reason 
also, in this particular, and search a little into the merits 
of the custom. 

Is not the infant supported by the mother ? 

When there are two to be supported, is not more 
nourishment required than for one of them only ?* 

Is this then a time, without any real necessity, to 
sport with the blood of a weakly and delicate woman ? 
No — surely not. 

Let me therefore beg of you, my ingenuous friends, 
to consider this matter in a rational light. I have given 
a plain and easy clue to pursue the inquiry ; and the 
subject will not permit me to enter more fully into it 
with my fair readers, without assuming the character of 
the physician, and without advancing those things, which 
may, in this collection of letters, be considered as an af- 
front to delicacy. 

To your own thoughts then I commit it ; and will 
conclude this letter with saying, that, though I do not 
deny but there are cases which require bleeding, yet I 
caution you against doing it at random, and, indeed, 
without very good advice : at the same time, I firmly be- 
lieve such instances rarely happen to those who are not 
of a robust constitution, and am fully persuaded, that 
many women are daily injured by this wrong practice. 

* See Note 20. 



LETTER IV. 

OF 

MOTHER'S MILK 



LETTER IV. 

Mother s Milk — the natural aiid best food for Infants, 

I HAVE endeavored to set forth the ridiculousness of 
women terrifying themselves, and every body about 
them during their pregnancy, with evils that most pro- 
bably are altogether imaginary. I would wish my fe- 
male readers to consider this subject in a more exten- 
sive view, and to aim at greater fortitude than the sex 
can generally boast, in the common occurrences of life ; 
when the tenderness of men is not so much engaged, 
and when the ladies cannot reasonably expect such kind 
allowances as are made at this particular time. Think 
me not severe ; a faithful monitor must speak with free- 
dom ; the man who is blind to this foible, must be insen- 
sible to your charms, and unworthy of your confidence. 
Your happiness is at stake, much more so than a super- 
ficial observer may imagine. Female vivacity softens 
the rugged paths of life ; and, believe me, self-love ope- 
rates powerfully, even upon the most generous minds. 
The woman who indulges gloomy ideas — who is conti- 
nually brooding over melancholy — ^who, in her hours of 
domestic retirement, is perpetually rendering herself 
miserable, and her most intimate acquaintance, and 
dearest relatives, unhappy — such a mistaken being must 



62 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

only expect the cold eye of pity. However powerful 
her personal attractions, she will ultimately banish her 
husband and her friends. It will be found her greatest 
misfortune, and at a time too when it is irretrievable, to 
have, once had the merit to gain, perhaps^ a valuable 
heart, when she has not discretion enough to keep it. 
The importance of the subject will, I hope, apologize 
for this digression. 

We have also earnestly labored to conquer the preju- 
dices concerning marks, in consequence of frights and 
longings ; and have exposed the fabulous histories of 
those wonders. We have likewise shown how the un- 
derstanding may be deceived by the forms of fancy ; 
and have no less earnestly endeavored to explode the 
mistaken custom of bleeding indiscriminately, during 
pregnancy — pointing out, upon rational principles, the 
absurdity of all. A task equally arduous in every 
part ; a thousand prejudices being imbibed against the 
whole. 

Another subject at this time presents itself to view — I 
mean that of women suckhng their own children ;^ 
against which, the present obstinately received opinions 
are still more unaccountable than the former ; as no- 
thing but a strange perversion of human nature could 
first deprive children of their mother's milk. Give me 
leave, therefore, to observe, that milk is the natural sup- 
port which the great author of our being has provided 
for our infant state : and I am heartily sorry the present 



See Note 21. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



manner of bringing up children puts me, in some mea- 
sure, under the necessity of proving milk to be the best 
food that can be given them. 

Milk is a nourishment produced from the various kinds 
of food taken in by the mother. Her stomach breaks 
and digests the aliment, which, after various operations 
of nature, becomes so far animalized as to be a kind of 
white blood : from whence animal bodies at all times 
receive their constant support and recruit. This, there- 
fore, being admitted — until an infant's powers are suffi- 
ciently strengthened to perform so great a business as 
that of digestion, the mother, by the all-wise appoint- 
ment of Providence, from her own breast supplies it 
with the means of life.*. Hence no other nourishment 
appears so proper for a new-born child.* 

For the farther information and satisfaction of my fe- 
male readers, and to convince them that milk is the most 
propel nourishment for tender infants, I think it will not 
be improper to give a concise account of the manner in 
which grown persons receive their constant recruit and 
support from their daily food. 

Whether it be animal or vegetable diet, or a mixture 
of both, taken into the stomach, the quality of the food 
is so far altered by the digestive process, that a milky 
nutriment is produced from it ; and as the aliment 
passes through the bowels, this milk is taken up by a 
great number of fine vessels, which, from their destined 
office, are called the milky vessels ; and through them 

* See Note 22. 



64 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

it is conveyed into the blood for our support : and, as 
before observed, nature has so admirably contrived the 
animal fabric, that mothers are likewise enabled to sup- 
port their young from this constant supply, which at the 
same time, also affords to themselves their own proper 
nourishment. 

This is the grand scheme of nutriment : for, when 
these particles of our food, which afford us sustenance, 
are thus taken up by the milky vessels, the grosser parts 
are, by the same wonderful construction of the bowels, 
rejected and evacuated, in a manner well known to every 
one. 

Whoever, therefore, gives this argument a rational 
consideration, will, I trust, be led to acknowledge milk 
to be not only the natural, but the best and most strength- 
ening nourishment that infants can possibly receive ; be- 
cause their digestive faculties are, at this time, incapa- 
ble of producing a good and proper milky nutriment 
from any kind of food which can be given to them. 

The author of nature has universally committed the 
support of infants, and the early part of children's edu- 
cation, to women ; if it were not thus ordained, he 
would undoubtedly have furnished men also with milk 
for the nourishment of their young ;^ and experience 
convinces us, that women are much better qualified, both 
by nature and custom, for this important concern. This 
system of -nursing, therefore, is peculiarly addressed to 
the fair sex, who are most interested in it, and who will 

^ Bee Note 23. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 66 

most sensibly feel the happy or miserable effects of the 
manner in which they discharge this first great trust 
which is reposed in them. Here, indeed, a mother will 
assuredly reap the happy fruits of fortitude, and those 
likewise of a lively, cheerful and obliging disposition. 
This subject will be treated at large in the twelfth let- 
ter ; nevertheless, give me leave to observe, in this 
place, that such as the mother is, generally speaking, 
such will be the first, and most probably the most du- 
rable impressions received by the child. It therefore 
naturally follows, that infants, whose minds are early 
accustomed to agreeable objects, and whose expanding 
ideas are gratified with pleasing sensations, unabated by 
slavish fears — such, and such only, as they rise into life, 
will possess that generous gratitude, which prompts 
them to consider it as a first great duty to contribute to 
the happiness of their parents. 

I am exceedingly offended, whenever I observe a 
child, grown to a man or woman's estate, who shows, 
upon any occasion, a want of respect or duty to its pa- 
rents ; and more particularly so, if such slight or con- 
tempt be exercised toward a good mother. Unnatural 
monster ! to be wanting in respect to her who bore him 
in her womb — who cherished and supported him with 
her milk — and for many years after his birth, gave up 
her own pleasures and recreations entirely for his sake — 
and who had no cares but for his welfare. I would 
have a mark set upon the forehead of such a barbarous 
savage ; and he should be hunted from the society of 

men. 

6* 



(^6 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



Those mothers, who, by a foolish indulgence spoil 
the tempers and dispositions of their children, are un- 
doubtedly culpable ; but the example of a violent, pas- 
sionate, yet neghgent and insensible father, is equally or 
more to be dreaded. A mother has this plea, that she en- 
deavors, at least, at the time, to make her child happy ; 
and it may be said, in excuse for her conduct, that she 
is to be pitied, in not knowing better : but there is no 
excuse, either to God or man, that can be urged to mi- 
tigate the vice and folly of such a father : the iniquity 
resteth with himself alone ; for the benevolent author 
of our being is not to be arraigned upon this or any 
other occasion. 

How provident is nature in all her works ! How won- 
derfully indulgent to man, and other helpless animals, 
in their first state of existence, by thus enabhng the 
mother to feed her young with nourishment drawn from 
her own body, until such time as the offspring has ob- 
tained strength sufiicient to provide for itself! This 
gracious bounty is abused only by man, the most intelli- 
gent of earthly beings ; whose misuse of reason leads 
him astray,^ whilst humble instinct directs all other 
parts of the creation aright. 

If we look around us, we shall find every animal that 
gives suck, carefully fostering her young : and other en- 
joyments are no more thought of, until they are capable 
of providing for themselves. An example by which 
mankind might profit much : but the strong impulse of 

'^ See Note 24. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



passion, in this and many other instances, subdues our 
reason. Did we consider the benefit of our children 
more, and the indulgence of our selfish inclinations less, 
the race of man would be more healthy, strong and vi- 
gorous, than we can at present boast. But, alas ! such 
is the depravity of human nature, that it would be in 
vain to enlarge upon this topic of complaint ; it is there- 
fore our present business to prevent, as much as possi- 
ble, the future growth of these evils. 

Let us, my friends, as you are all interested in the in- 
quiry, compare the success of mankind with that of the 
other animals in rearing their young. A little observa- 
tion will convince us, that greater numbers of the hu- 
man race are lost in their infancy, than of any other 
species ; for near one half the deaths, within our bills 
of mortality, happen to children under five y^ars of 
age.* And farther, compare the opulent with the rus- 
tic, the success is still exceedingly different. How- 
many children of the great, fall victims to prevailing 
customs, the effects of riches ! How many of the poor 
are saved by wanting these luxuries ! 

Again, compare the success of such as suckle their 
own offspring, with that of those who commit them to 
the care of nurses, or bring them up by hand ; and we 
•shall there likewise find an amazing diffierence : but 
more of this hereafter. ♦ 

From these considerations, it is evident, that naturt> 
is always preferable to art ; whence the brute creation 

■^ Bee Note 25. 



QS LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

succeed better than the human, in preserving their own 
species. And the peasant, whom necessity compels to 
follow nature, is, in this respect, happier than his lord. 
Those mothers also, who in spite of custom, pride, or 
indolence, will take their little ones to their breast, must 
have more comfort and success, than those who cruelly 
consign them to the care of foster nurses ; thereby de- 
nying them that food, which is not only the most pro- 
per, but is ordained likewise for their infant state. 

Let me then entreat those who are desirous of rear- 
ing their children, not to rob them of their natural 
breast. Would they wish them to be healthy and beau- 
tiful, let such mothers give suck : for even wet nurses, 
we shall find, are very little to be depended upon. 



LETTER V. 



OF 



SUCKLING. 



LETTER V. 

.Arguments in favor of Suckling — as well for the mother^ s sake^ as 
the chiWs — and the evils to he apprehended in delivering children 
to the care of foster nurses. 

Health and beauty are desirable, and the latter in par- 
ticular to women. They must, in this case, be uni- 
ted ; as it is impossible for a woman to be truly beauti- 
ful, who wants health. Disease bhghts the rosy bloom 
upon the cheek, turns the delicate whiteness of the skin 
into a sallow hue, and destroys the enchanting lustre of 
the eye. How insufficient is it for a lovely maid to 
make a conquest, if she cannot keep it, as a wife ! 

It is not at present my province to enlarge upon the 
accomplishments of the mind. How necessary they 
are to secure the affections of a husband, every prudent 
woman knows : and she must be equally sensible, that 
the elegance of her person is also to be regarded ; an 
advantage which those who are in a bad state of health 
have scarcely spirits to attend to : besides, illness too 
often renders the sweetest dispositions cross and 
peevish. 

Those who are happy enough to have children, run 
the greatest risk, not only of losing them, but of de- 
stroying their own health and beauty, by repelling their 
milk immediately after delivery. It never can be done 
without producing a fever. Oftentimes tumours, and 



72 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

cancers in the breast, owe their origin to this pernicious 
custom ; asthrnatical complaints, and lingering diseases, 
are frequently occasioned by it ; and, too commonly, 
the immediate death of the mother follows from such ill 
management. 

Consider, my fair pupils, for your own health's sake, 
and for the sake of your future happiness, how necessa- 
ry it is to preserve such dear pledges of mutual love. 
By these powerful ties, many a man, in spite of impetu- 
ous passions, is compelled to continue the prudent, 
kind, indulgent, tender husband. Did you but thorough- 
ly know the secret impulses of the human heart, you 
would not risk the loss of your children, by unnaturally 
denying them the means of life. 

Let not the mistaken husband insinuate, that you will 
be less charming in his sight, by doing your duty to your 
little ones : many, many instances have I known, of 
weakly and delicate woman, who, at my particular re- 
quest, have suckled their children, and thereby obtained 
a much better state of health ; nay, they have been 
more pleasing in their persons, after thus becoming hap- 
py mothers ; and their husbands have, with pleasure, 
acknowledged their improved charms. 

There may be some cases in which it is not prudent 
for a mother to give suck ;* but these instances very 
rarely happen : and there may be some women, who, 
although, they are ever so desirous, cannot suckle ; 
this, however, is but seldom to be urged. I sincerely 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 73 

sympathise with those unfortunate ladies, who are thus 
deprived of a happiness, only known to those who en- 
joy it. What shall we say under these necessitous cir- 
cumstances ? Shall we advise such mothers to employ 
a wet-nurse ; or to bring their children up under their 
own management, according to proper rules which 
shall be laid down in a following letter ? They are both, 
in my opinion, wTetched necessities. Yet, was an in- 
fant of my own thus unhappily situat^^d, without hesitation 
I would prefer the latter ; for much is to be apprehend- 
ed from a child's sucking a strange woman: nothing 
less than absolute necessity would make me comply 
with it. 

Too often diseases, and those of the worst kind, are 
imbibed from the breast.*" It is a shocking truth, but 
vicious inconstancy is become so universal, even among 
the lower rank of people, that many women offer them- 
selves, and are daily employed as wet-nurses, who are 
laboring under dreadful and infectious diseases. Yet, 
supposing you can arrive at a satisfactory assurance in 
this point, there is a certain cleansing quality in the milk 
of a w^oman immediately after child-bearing, exceeding- 
ly necessary for the new-born babe in order to prepare 
its stomach and bowels for future food : this you very 
rarely can obtain from a wet-nurse. 

There is yet a further evil to be dreaded : as it is 
through necessity alone that a woman will desert her 
®wn infant, and take another to her breast, she may be 



^' See Note 27. 
7 



74 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

induced, by the advantage she gains, to conceal her be« 
ing again with child, and continue to suckle the infant, 
till it pines away and dies, for want of proper nourish- 
ment. Thousands have been sacrificed by these means. 
Should they however escape, in either case, they are, 
too generally, miserable beings ; for, in consequence of 
the first, diseases of the glands, known by the vulgar 
name of the king's evil, and other terrible complaints, 
succeed ; and in the latter, the rickets, summer com- 
plaints, and many other maladies, proceeding from a 
weakly and relaxed habit of body, most commonly 
ensue. 

On the other hand, disease and death are the usual 
consequences of the present erroneous method of bring- 
ing children up by hand. Scarcely one in four of these 
little innocents live to get over the cutting of their teeth ; 
and the vitiated blood of those that escape, occasioned 
by improper nourishment, generally renders them in- 
firm, or short-lived. Almost every complaint to which 
children are subject, appears to me to proceed original- 
ly from an improper management of them ; for the 
young of all other animals are full of health and vigor. 

And moreover, independently of these misfortunes, 
the future happiness of the parent herself, is greatly in- 
terested in this maternal concern ; as it generally falls 
out, that those children who are neglected by their mo- 
thers during their infant years, forget all duty and affec- 
tion towards them, when such mothers are in the de- 
cline of life ; and this contempt from a child, is nothing 
less than plunging a dagger into the breast of its pa- 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. iO 



rent : and besides the cruel pangs which she must una- 
voidably experience from this want of duty, daily obser- 
vation convinces us, that widows frequently suffer not a 
little, even for the common conveniences of life, by the 
means of those very children, who, if properly educated, 
would have probably become their support and com- 
fort. 

Such are the melancholy prospects attending the pre- 
ent unnatural practice of wet and dry nursing ; from 
which a curse is oftentimes entailed upon a generation, 
of w^hich parents ought to esteem themselves the au- 
thors. How terrible soever these things appear, I es- 
teem it my duty to acquaint mothers in particular, what a 
risk they run in thus hazarding the health and Uves of their 
children, together with their own present and future hap- 
piness ; and sincerely hope I may imprint the same ob- 
jections upon them, that daily experience in my profes- 
sion presents to me, against these pernicious customs. 

Oh ! that I could prevail on my fair country-women, 
to become still more lovely in the sight of men ! Be- 
lieve it not, when it is insinuated, that your bosoms are 
less charming, for having a dear little cherub at your 
breast. I speak from the feelings of a man, and of one 
too, who has an universal and generous love for the vir- 
tuous part of your sex. Trust me, there is no husband 
could withstand the fond soHcitations of an endearing 
wife, would she be earnest in her desire of bringing up 
her own children. Rest assured, when he beholds the 
object of his soul cherishing and supporting in her arms 
the propitious reward of wedlock, and fondly traces his 



76 LETTERS TO MARRIED LAPIES. 

own lineaments in the darling boy, it recalls a thousand 
dehcate sensations to a generous mind : perhaps he 
drops a sympathetic tear in recollecting the painful 
throes of the mother, which she cheerfully bore, to 
make him such an inestimable present. His love, ten- 
derness and gratitude, being thus engaged — with what 
raptures must he behold her, still carefully intent upon 
the preservation of his own image I 

How ardent soever such an one's affections might 
be before matrimony, a scene like this will more firmly 
rivet the pleasing fetters of love : — for, though a beau- 
tiful virgin must ever kindle emotions in a man of sen- 
sibility, a chaste and tender wife, with a little one at her 
breast, is certainly to her husband the most exquisitely 
enchanting object upon earth : — and surely, ladies, had 
fashion but established this laudable custom among 
you, it would prove so truly amiable, as not only to ex- 
cite the emulation of your maiden friends to worthy 
conquests, but also raise their ambition to shine in cha- 
racters thus dignified. How greatly then would you 
contribute to the fehcity of your own families, and of 
mankind in general. 



LETTER VI. 

OP 

INFANTS 






LETTER VI. 

The management of Infants from the birth — with directions for 
putting them to the breast, 

Happy, thrice happy woman, now become a joyful mo- 
ther, nurturing her young ! Say, tell me, you who know 
the rapturous dehght, how complete is the bliss of en- 
folding in your longing arms, the dear, dear fruits of all 
your pains ! — pains now no more remembered. Long 
may you preserve the darhng, and be doubly blest in its 
future beauty, health and virtue ! 

I am not unmindful, my charming friends, of the pre- 
judices necessary to be conquered, before so material a 
benefit to mankind, as that which I am to picture out 
in this letter, can be generally obtained. In my last, 
the misfortunes attending the neglect of this duty were 
fully explained ; and as I have frequently succeeded 
among the private circle of my friends, by addressing 
their understanding, I trust to the candor of the more 
ingenuous part of your sex, for my success in public. 
My endeavor, therefore, throughout, shall be to con- 
vince you that I have reason and truth on my side. 
Happy then shall I think myself,, and amply rewarded 
for my trouble, if I am fortunate enough to meet with 
your approbation : because your observance of the 
rules laid down in this little manual must necessarily 



80 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

follow. Much depends upon your maternal care in the 
first stage of life ; it is a pleasing duty, to which you 
are honorably called, both by nature and the custom of 
all nations. 

I am truly sensible, that, according to the present 
mistaken manner of suckling and rearing children, the 
business is a fatigue, which frightens many at the first 
attempt ; it is a method altogether culpable and unna- 
tural. To this letter particularly belongs the first man- 
agement of them. In my next, I shall point out the 
subsequent errors, and lay down some general rules, 
that will not only prove beneficial to the child, but make 
the task of suckhng easy and delightful to the mother : 
even the polite and gay may cheerfully undertake this, 
at present laborious, employment, without greatly inter- 
fering with a social life — for the gloomy ideas of a 
nursery will vanish. The paths of nature are easy and 
dehghtful. Come then, my fair friends, and let us fol- 
low her, step by step. 

We have before observed, that a child brings its im- 
mediate nourishment into the world with its birth. Man 
is born in sorrow. The fatigue and pain of delivery, 
both to the mother and the child, require rest ; and, gene- 
rally, where no improper means are used, they both 
directly fall into a sweet refreshing sleep ; during which 
time the milky vessels of the breast are dilated. Thus, 
with prudent management, in a short time a small flow 
of milk will be obtained. The child, replete with nou- 
rishment at its birth, awakes equally refreshed with the 



LETTERS TO 3IARRIED LADIES. 81 

mother, and by eagerly sucking the nipple encourages 
its more plentiful supply.'*^ 

Sometimes there may be a little inconvenience with 
the first child ; but this is rendered still greater by keep- 
ing it away, perhaps two or three days, from the mother, 
and suffering her attendants to draw her breasts, which 
generally occasions sore nipples. The gentle, easy, 
and frequent suction of an infant, will not only prevent 
this inconvenience, but gradually invite the milk, there- 
by relieving the mother from a troublesome burthen : 
the nipple also, by this means, will be drawn out, so 
that the child may suck without further difficulty. This 
is the lesson nature teaches ; and wise are they who 
observe her precepts. 

As to an infant's clothing, the lighter it is, and the 
more unconfined, the better ; very little covering is ne- 
cessary : and the future deformities of shape, &c., not 
to mention the deplorable loss of health, sometimes 
proceed from the dress being too heavy, and confined, 
at its first entrance into life.t 

I am entirely against an infant's receiving any nou- 
rishment until it can be put to the breast ; and much 
more so against cramming it with what nurses call pap. 
The stomach is not yet fit for any other food than what 
nature has prepared. Art cannot produce a diet with 
such an affinity to animal blood, as to render it proper 
for the tender bowels of a new-born child. 

The cries of an infant are generally occasioned by the 



^ See Note 2S, t See Note 29. 



82 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

uneasiness it suffers, either from its dress, or in conse- 
quence of thus cramming it. The complaints of chil- 
dren in these early days, as I before observed, and like- 
wise the difficulty in cutting of teeth, which I shall 
hereafter speak of, proceed almost entirely from this 
wrong practice. Summer complaints, offensive stools, 
and most disorders in their bowels, are altogether occa- 
sioned by improper food. 

Custom has rendered this ridiculous practice so uni- 
versal, that the good women continually complain it is 
impossible for a child to remain without food till the 
milk comes.* Let any mother make a fair and unpre- 
judiced trial, and experience will convince her of the 
truth of our maxim. 

How are other animals supported ? Nature, in no 
one part of the creation, is so imperfect, as to be in- 
debted to the wisdom of man to rectify her works. And 
suppose a case, in which the milk does not flow so soon 
as in general it is expected, let the child, under such 
circumstances, be put to the breast again and again ; a 
very little nourishment will at present suffice, and that 
will most commonly be obtained from the nipple ; if it 
is not, a little warm milk and water, with a small quan- 
tity of white sugar, is the only nourishment, in my 
opinion, that is proper to be given : this advice I 
have caused to be strictly followed, and have happily 
experienced the good effects of it in an infant of my 
own, who scarcely received any support from the breast 

* See Note 30. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 83 

till after the third day from the birth. Follow, my dear 
ladies, these rules ; and where there are an hmidred acci- 
dents that now happen to mothers, in consequence of 
milk fevers, and to children, in consequence of being 
denied the breast, you will rarely find one. I am con- 
vinced of the truth of my assertion by experience, and, 
therefore, am the more bold in recommending it to you, 
and to the public. 



LETTER VIL 

OF 

SUCKLING. 



LETTER VII. 

v4 natural and easy method of Suckling children. This duty proved 
to he a pleasure rather than a fatigue. 

Now then, my nearly interested friends, let us observe 
those parts of the creation where instinct only can direct, 
and for once learn a lesson from the tender brute. Be- 
hold those animals which are familiar to us, how suc- 
cessful they are in bringing up their young ! animals 
that give milk to three, four, five, six, and sometimes 
more of their offspring at a birth. How well and hap- 
py are their dams ! What unremitting care do they 
take of their nurslings ! They never desert them, until 
time has given to their bodies strength sufficient to 
provide for themselves. Provident nature ! — and shall 
mankind alone distrust thy goodness ? Let us learn^ 
and be wise. Never more suffer it to pass for an argu* 
ment, that a woman, who is capable of bearing a child^ 
has not strength to suckle it, when the little creatures 
that surround us can rear a whole family at once. 

O that I could convince you of the breast alone being 
a sufficient support for the most robust of children \ 
Consider nature well in all her works ! Let ignorance 
and prejudice no longer prevail ! Believe this solenm 
truth, almost every woman is capable of supporting her 
babe ; and great will prove the advantages, both to 



88 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



herself and her infant. When it is confined altogether 
to the breast it gains strength every day, and defies dis- 
ease. The mother, under these circumstances, would 
not again conceive so quickly ; and miscarriages would 
theireby be, in a great measure, prevented ; unless hur- 
ried on by frequent bleedings, and other mistaken prac- 
tices. 

If, for the sake of your famihes, you value your own 
lives, attend to this indisputable fact. You yourselves 
know how many women are ruined in their health by 
not suckling their children ; and what numbers are 
continually sacrificed by unskilful methods of treatment, 
at the time of their delivery. You may — you should 
support your young ; the task is easy and delightful, 
and the thriving child rewards your pains. It is not 
laborious. I would not wish to see you slaves : the 
tender delicacy of your frame forbids the very thought. 
The method is plain and easy — only follow nature. 

Sleep is essentially necessary to life ; and that the 
stomach should sometimes be at rest, is as essentially 
necessary to health ; both these things the mother and 
child equally require. Thus the slavish part of the 
business is set aside ; for it is an absurd and erroneous 
custom, after stuffing it continually in the day, to keep 
a child at the breast all night. This counteracts the 
operations of nature, not only by depriving it of its rest, 
but also, from a constant fulness, the powers of the in» 
fant body are prevented from exerting themselves in a 
proper manner upon the aliment received. Hence the 
stomach and bowels are enfeebled, and thereby rendered 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 89 



incapable of producing such wholesome nourishment as 
a child would otherwise obtain from its food ; to which 
grand purpose, sound sleep and abstinence are equally 
conducive. 

On the other hand, the mother, being continuaUy 
disturbed during the night, is also prevented from 
assimilating that good and perfect milk, which would 
otherwise be produced from the food of the day.* 
Hence she becomes ill, grows tired of her task, and the 
crude milk proves noxious to the weakened bowels of 
the infant. Thus disappointment and death frequently 
succeed. 

I know it will be urged by some, that it is impossible 
to keep children quiet and at rest, during the night, and 
that they cry for food. Let them be managed from the 
birth agreeably to the directions here given, and then I 
beheve few persons will complain of their being trouble- 
some. One reason why children do not sleep well by 
night is, that they are indulged too much in the cradle 
by day, when they should have exercise. Another still 
greater reason, I am inclined to think, proceeds from 
pain in the first passages, occasioned by improper food ; 
for I will venture to affirm, that almost every child's 
bowels, from the present wrong management, are in a 
state of disease, which too frequently grows up with it 
into hfe ; and thus in infancy the lurking cause of a bad 
constitution is oftentimes established. 

When their little stomachs, irritated by too large a 



* SeeN^teSI. 
8* 



90 LEISTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

quantity, and the bad quality of food, become somewhat 
empty ; a pain, probably like what we call the heart- 
burn, and acidities at the stomach, awakens them from 
their disturbed slumbers ; and these little creatures can 
then only discover their uneasiness by crying. Hence 
nurses, partly for their own quiet, and partly through a 
mistaken notion that children cry only for nourishment, 
cram them until they are quite gorged. Such infants 
eagerly devour whatever is given them, because the re- 
ception of food takes off that too great sensibility of the 
stomach which caused the pain.^ A similar effect to 
this, grown persons, troubled with the complaints I 
have now mentioned, must every day experience upon 
taking nourishment ; for it always affords a present re- 
lief 

Four or five times in the twenty-four hours are suffi- 
cient for a child to receive the breast ; and let the fol- 
lowing rules be nearly observed. About six or seven 
in the morning, after which the child may be allowed 
an hour or two's sleep ? — again, an hour after the mo- 
ther has breakfasted — and a third time, if she pleases, 
before dinner — a fourth time, at five or six o'clock in 
the evening, being two or three hours after dinner — and 
lastly, between ten and eleven, just before she goes to 
rest. 

Now, by those mothers who have servants to take offl 
the laborious part of the management of children, this, 
surely, cannot be deemed a fatigue : that the task itself] 

•^ See Note 3.2. 



LETTERS TO MARBIED LADIES. 91 

~ .-v'"'- ■■■ ■ . - - ■■:—■ — - I-jjj : ^ 

is a pleasure, the fondness of nurses towards children at 
the breast fully proves ; and that it is an indispensable 
duty, the feelings of human nature evidently proclaim. 

In the early months, sleep may be indulged during the 
day; but exercise should also at proper intervals be 
given to children. As they grow stronger, sleep should 
be less encouraged, and exercise increased. 

There are several points of management that I have 
no fault to find with ; and, among others, think it need- 
less to dwell upon the necessity of keeping children dry 
and clean ; it is so evident, that few nurses are culpable 
in these particulars. But as to rocking children, the 
custom is altogether absurd. He was an ingenious 
man who invented a mouse-trap, though none but a 
fool first thought of .a cradle ; it was certainly invented 
to save the attendants trouble, for which, by the by, 
they sufier more in return. I never permitted a cradle 
to disgrace my nursery. Infants, if well, sleep without 
this lullaby-labor ; and such forced dozings generally 
render them peevish and watchful in the night ; which 
is the most proper time both for them and their nurses 
to enjoy their rest.^ 

At the end of six or seven months, when the four first 
teeth ought to appear, children should be kept awake 
and exercised as much as possible ; by which time, if 
managed properly, they will generally gain strength 
enough to shoot these teeth, and the others will, in due 
course, be cut with ease. 



* See Note 33. 



92 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



Thus you will avoid an evil that sweeps away great 
numbers ; of which, however, I shall speak more fully 
in another letter ; for it is entirely owing to the weak- 
ness of their bodies, that children cut their teeth with so 
much difficulty, and that it is attended with fever, con- 
vulsions, and death. 

This weakness of body is but little understood ; for if 
a child be bloated with fat, which too generally happens 
when it is improperly fed, the parents and their friends 
call it a fine child, and admire how it thrives — when, 
alas ! that very fat is the disease which renders its con- 
stitution thus feeble : for if the butcher did not kill 
lambs and calves when they become immoderately 
fat, they likewise would die as frequently as children. 
Which death may be justly attributed to the preposte- 
rous method, so generally in use, of giving them too 
much crude unsalutary nourishment ; and not managing 
them, in other respects, as nature requires, to strengthen 
the body from the food received. 

After what has been advanced concerning the early 
part of infant management, give me leave to observe^ 
that the arguments enforced upon this important sub- 
ject, are submitted to the consideration of those mothers 
who are desirous of preferring a rational system to 
bigotted maxims and opinions. I would wish them to 
be attended to, and I trust that they will merit their ap- 
probation. I do not expect the foregoing rules to be 
invariably adopted from the birth. I know very well, 
and it is obvious to those who have been attentive to 
children, that infants require some more, and others less 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 93 

attendance, especially during the first month or two ; 
and a certain time is necessary, even under the most 
prudent management, to accustom them to our wished- 
for habits. There is a wide difference between know- 
ing what is right, and doing it ; and oftentimes^ although 
we may be desirous of strictly following the most pru- 
dent maxims, difficulties will unexpectedly arise in the 
first attempts. Let me, therefore, desire you to aim at 
the above regulations, which, by perseverance, will soon 
become practicable ; and then, determine for yourselves 
how greatly they will contribute to your own ease and 
comfort, as well as to the advantage of your children. 



LETTER VIII 



OF 



WEANING 



LETTER VIII. 

The proper method of Weaning children. 

Tn my last letter I condemned the present erroneous 
method of suckling and feeding children, and recom- 
mended a plain and easy way of rearing them to six 
or seven months old, upon a rational plan, pointed 
out by nature in many different parts of the creation ; 
and which, most probably, was strictly followed by man- 
kind in the early ages of the world, before luxury, pride, 
and indolence, crept into society. Ancient history 
never could have boasted of so many strong and vahant 
men, had not mothers in their infancy, given strength 
and vigor to their constitutions ; and the cause of the 
present pusillanimous, feeble, weakly, and diseased race 
of mortals, may in some measure be ascribed to the 
want of this earliest maternal care. 

Let us talk with the plain and simple husbandman, 
who has a nursery of trees under his direction ; he will 
tell us it is not sufficient for the stocks to be good of 
their kind ; for, unless they be secured from rude winds, 
and properly cultivated, so that they may receive nou- 
rishment, they will never thrive. 

It is literally the same in animal life ; there are un- 
fortunate mothers who daily and wofuUy experience the 

Q 



98 BliTTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

■• .. •■ . "- ,--...- .„ ■ " ■ ■ - aii-\- 

truth of this argument. How many women are blest 
with fine children, not a blemish, nor the mark of a 
disease about them at their birth ; and yet before many 
months past, for want of prudent care and proper nou- 
rishment, do they not waste away and die ? I need not 
say more ; the tears of many of my gentle readers, at 
the unhappy recollection, will sufficiently testify the fact. 
May such tears prove a warning for their future conduct ; 
and, trust me, my honored matrons, your sorrow will be 
turned into joy— a joy of the tenderest nature, generous 
and truly laudable I 

Let not man, in the vanity of his heart, triumph in 
a superiority over the fair sex ! for to them alone it be- 
longs to lay the foundation, not of what he is, but what 
he should be — healthy, strong, and vigorous. You, 
ladies, from an hero in the cradle ; and courage is re- 
ceived from the breast. Gratitude in return, demands 
a protection to you from man. With yourselves, there- 
fore, it remains to render him capable of that protec- 
tion. Thus nature, my fair ones, ordained your im- 
portance in the creation. 

But to return to the husbandman ; he will again tell 
us, that when his trees have received their infant strength, 
and their roots begin to shoot, it is necessary to trans- 
plant them from the nursery to a more extensive soil, in 
order that they may arrive at their natural perfection. 
So you, my friends, have brought the child through its 
infant state, by the tender nourishment of the breast^ 
must, at the time of weaning, (which, in ray opinion, is 



LETTERS TO HARRIED LADIES. 99 

best postponed until it be near a twelve-month old*) 
transplant your Uttle nursery likewise to a more exten- 
sive soil ; that is, you must afford it more copious nou- 
rishment, in order to bring it to maturer life. 

Yet, as great skill and caution are required on the 
part of the husbandman, in this business of transplant- 
ing, so great judgment and care must be shown by you, 
in this your province of weaning children ; for custom 
has so far deviated from nature, as to render the great- 
est circumspection necessary to point out the happy 
medium. 

A further care, therefore, at this time, demands our 
attention. Man, according to the present mode, parti- 
cularly in England, is greatly supported by animal food. 
A sudden transition from one extreme to another, is al- 
ways dangerous ; and every material alteration, to avoid 
inconveniences, should be brought about step by step. 
If nature ever intended us to destroy the animals around 
us for prey, surely we may conclude this food never 
could be designed for our use, until such time as we had 
teeth to eat it. 

Many ill consequences arise from persons devouring 
their meals too eagerly ; and if the stomachs of men are 
oppressed, by not sufficiently chewing their meat,! cer- 
tainly the weak and tender stomachs of children, who 
have not as yet teeth sufficient to break it, must be still 
less fit to receive it altogether whole. 

Animal food, then, at this time of life, is absolutely 

'^ See Note 34. t See Note 35. 



100 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

forbidden, from reason and reflection ; but as it is in 
some measure necessary to prepare them for their future 
method of living, broths and jellies may now be given 
sparingly, and as they increase in strength and age, more 
plentifully. Hereby the animal juices are received, 
which contain the only nourishment in flesh, without 
any labor to tbe stomach ? and let it be remembered, 
that the juices of full grown animals are to be preferred 
to the younger and fattened kind ; but more of this in 
its proper place. 

Let children, at this time, be fed once or twice a day, 
with about a quarter of a pint of broth, and a little 
bread mixed in it. When you give a stiff" jelly, a large 
teacup full is sufficient ; but I would recommend as 
much warm water, or milk with it, and likewise a little 
bread. The breast should not be allowed them now so 
so often as when they were wholly confined to that nou» 
rishment ; in short, every meal that you thus introduce, 
should supply one of the stated times of suckling. 
Thus are they gradually and insensibly weaned from the 
breast, and accustomed to animal food, without any pi- 
ning on their parts, or much trouble to the mother. 

Having shown the proper manner of putting a child 
to the breast, and likewise the most prudent method of 
taking it away ; we shall, in the next letter, point out 
the safest rules for bringing children up by the hand : 
but another observation or two, will not be improper in 
this place. 

The gravy, which runs out of meat, upon cutting it 
when brought to table, is exceedingly wholesome, being 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. lOl 



nothing more than the pure juices of the flesh. A few 
spoonfuls of this beef or mutton gravy, mixed with an 
equal quantity of warm water, and a little salt, make 
very good broth. I mention this, because parents gene- 
rally imagine it .to be unwholesome for children ; and 
oftentimes, when I have recommended it, some good 
old lady has stoutly opposed me, alleging that it fills a 
child with humours ; whereas^ on the contrary, this 
is the only part of flesh that produces good nourish- 
ment. 

Here let me protest against the custom of not suflfer- 
ing children to eat salt, for fear of the scurvy ; not 
making a distinction between salted meats, and salt 
€aten with meat. In this point also, strong prejudices 
are frequently to be combatted with ; for many a time 
have I been told by persons of reverent years, that child- 
ren were not suffered to eat salt in former days ; ad- 
ding, perhaps, with a significant shrug, that the present 
age think themselves much wiser than their forefathers. 

'' Animal food, which has been any considerable time 
in salt, becomes hard, and requires more force to break 
and digest it, proper for nourishment, than weak sto- 
machs are capable of exerting; consequently, salted 
beef, pork,* and such like things, are improper for child- 



ren." 



Nevertheless, salt in itself, is so far from producing tho 
scurvy, that it is now generally supposed to be its great- 
est antidote ; otherwise, why do so many thousands 

^^ See Note 36. 



102 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



yearly flock to bathe, and drink sea- water 1 There iSj 
further, a certain stimulating quality in salt, that greatly 
promotes digestion ; and whatsoever assists that office, 
must, of course, rather contribute to purify the blood, 
than to render it foul ; which is the aupposed cause of 
the present frequently imagined, but oftentimes only a 
fashionable disease — called the scurvy. 

I have been repeatedly thanked for the following in- 
formation. A table spoonful or two of salt, put into a 
quart of spring water, is a most excellent wash to 
cleanse the skin, especially if the face be well rubbed 
with a coarse cloth some little time after it has been 
washed with the salt and water. By this means the 
pores of the skin will be kept open, and no obstructed 
perspiration will remain, which is the cause of carbuncles 
and those red pimples which are generally mistaken for 
the scurvy. It is this stimulating and cleansing quality 
of salt, that makes the sea-water so useful to those who 
are troubled with eruptions ; therefore, by the above 
proportion, the water is rendered still more efficacious, 
and will clear the face and neck of heats and pimples 
which frequently disturb the ladies. 

I cannot bear the modern prostitution of the words, 
female delicacy : the duties of a mother are, by some, 
thought to be indelicate ; and the appellation is now 
given only to disease and sickness ; for a woman must 
become a walking ghost to be styled truly delicate. I 
frequently lament^ that the idea is not more strictly con- 
fined to mental accomplishments ; nevertheless, I wish 
roy fair friends to bestow every rational and laudable at- 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 103 

tention to render their persons neat, elegant, and enga- 
ging- 

" Naked in nothing should a woman be, 

But veil her very wit in modesty ; 

Let man discover, let not her display, 

But yield her charms of mind, with sweet delay." 

I cannot conclude this letter better, than by ob- 
serving, that, although beauty stands like a cypher when 
alone, every additional qualification increases its merits 
ten-fold ; and the less sensible of it the possessor her- 
self appears to be, the more it will always be regarded 
by the admiring world. 

" What's female beauty but an air divine, 
Through which the mind's all gentler graces shine 5 
They, like the sun, irradiate all between. 
The body charms because the soul is seen ; 
For what's true beauty but fair virtue's face. 
Virtu© made visible in outward grace." 



LETTER IX, 

OF 

REARING BY HAND. 



LETTER IX. 

The safest method of Rearing ehildrea h'y hand.. 

We have hitherto, my fair ^ philosophers, been carefully 
observient of, and obedient to, the laws of nature. Her 
paths are infinitely various. Every step we take, affords 
new and engaging prospects. We have traced man 
from the first period of his existence, and have followed 
reason and instinct, to give him strength and vigor in 
the earhest part of life. So fair a dawning promises a 
robust and healthy constitution ; nevertheless, necessity 
obhges us to proceed to a farther speculation. 

Let it, therefore, be the business of this letter to in- 
quire how nearly art can supply the place of nature. 
Let us endeavor to point out a method to those unfor- 
tunate mothers, who are, through necessity, deprived of 
the happy enjoyment of suckling their own children. It 
may not prove unworthy the attention of those, who, 
by choice, commit them to the care of others. I pro- 
pose to carry my observations in this letter, as far as my 
instructions have been given to the valuable and truly 
praiseworthy matrons, whose duty to their family over- 
balances every other consideration. By and by, when 
the suckling is about to be weaned, and the. dry-nursed 
child brought equally forward, the rules of diet will b^e 



108 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

the same for both ; on which account I went no farther 
in my last letter, than the proper period for introducing 
broths, jellies, &c. All other considerations will be 
brought under general directions. 

Mother's milk, we have shown to be the natural and 
most proper support for tender infants* ; it is a digested 
fluid, already animalized, and therefore most proper foi^ 
the nourishment of children. This remark also shows^ 
that the infant body is, by nature, designed to receive 
only a liquid nourishment ; a hint particularly necessary 
to be attended to at this time, as it altogether obviates 
the general objections against confining children to 
mill^, in preference to thicker victuals, of which I shall 
speak more fully, before I conclude this letter. 

We have taken notice how tender the stomach and 
bowels of infants are, and have thence inferred, that al- 
most every complaint they are afflicted with, proceeds 
from the improper quality of their food : and the too 
large quantity given them, also increases the disease. 
We took notice, that the digestive powers of a new- 
born child are incapable of producing a kind nutriment, 
even from bread, and therefore exclaimed against feed- 
ing them with what is called pap. But suppose it to be 
otherwise ; what a poor pittance of support does such 
a mother allow to her child, who gives it only bread and 
water i 

I have seen many fatal instances of such strange ma- 
nagement. We ourselves should think it hard, indeed, 
and nothing but dire necessity could compel us to liv^ 
thus sparingly ; besides, how would our flesh waste, and 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 109 

our strength decay ! If so, surely it cannot be proper 
for an infant, whose bones have not as yet strength suf- 
ficient to support its frame. How is it possible for a 
child to thrive under such treatment ? Perhaps some 
will allow a little milk to be mixed with its food, but 
very sparingly ; because they imagine it stuffs the sto- 
mach, and fills a child full of phlegm. Idle and ridicu- 
lous are these, and all other arguments that can be urged 
against this natural and salubrious diet. 

Milk is here spoken of in general terms ; because I 
intend, in a subsequent letter, to examine the several 
properties of different milks, and to remark the purpose 
to which each kind seems best adapted. Cow's milk 
being mostly used, and in my opinion the most proper, 
in general, to answer our present design, I would there- 
fore be understood to recommend that, if no other kind 
is particularly mentioned. 

I know very well that many persons, and perhaps 
some gentlemen in the practice of physic, will differ 
from me in opinion, when I prefer cow's milk to every 
other kind of nourishment, in the early months, where 
it is necessary to bring a child up by hand. Let me beg 
of them only to make the experiment, as I speak from 
experience ; and if they have reason to censure me af- 
terw ards, we shall meet upon equal terms ; till then, at 
least, I shall hope for candor from every one. 

It has frequently been suggested to me, that cow's 

milk is too rich, abounding also with too much cream, 

and that being of a fat oily nature, it will relax more 

than strengthen. But, however, this fault is not 

10 



110 LETTEKS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



much to be apprehended from the milk used in and 
about London. Supposing it to be the case in the coun- 
try, which I am far from allowing, you may let it stand 
till the cream rises to the top, and use the skimmed 
milk ; or by boiling deprive it of the greatest part of 
this oily quality, which collects itself upon the surface, 
and may then be readily taken off; or it may be diluted 
with water. 

These doubts being removed, the milk of cows ap- 
pears, I think, to be the most proper substitute we can 
make, for that of the breast ; and will answer best, after 
the first month or two, without boihng, unless it purges 
the child ; in which case, boiling it will generally pre- 
vent the inconvenience, proceeding in all likelihood 
from its oily particles. I have no objection to a small 
quantity of white sugar being mixed with it, particular- 
ly if the child be costive ; and indeed this may frequent- 
ly be of use, to prevent its too great tendency to be- 
come acid, from whence disorders of the bowels some- 
times arise.* 



* Let it be remembered, that, through this system of nursing, 
children are supposed to be free from disease, and that I am to be 
considered not as the physician, but as the friend : when they are 
ill it is the business of those persons who have the care of them, 
to direct a proper food ; and upon many occasions, milk maybe so 
managed, as to prove greatly instrumental, even as a well-adapt- 
ed nourishment, to their recovery. In too laxative a habit of 
body, for instance, rice and cinnamon may be added ; but then 
care .Should be taken, that the rice be well boiled in water, before 
it is mixed with the milk. In the summer complaint, I frequently 
direct the following diet, for infants : Boil a table spoonful of ground 
rice, with a little cinnamon, in half a pint of water, till the water is 
nearly consumed ; then add a pint of milk, and let the whole gently 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. Ill 



One remark I shall beg leave to make, which comes 
in here with propriety. We have taken notice in a 
former letter, of the cleansing quality of mother's milk, 
upon its first coming into the breast. Now, where child- 
ren are debarred from receiving it, a substitute of some 
gentle purgative is highly proper, to give such a stimu- 
lus to the bowels, as nature has provided by the mother's 
means. What I have experienced to be the best calcu- 
lated for answering this purpose, is something of the 
following kind. 

Suppose we say, syrup of violets and oil of almonds^ 
of each^ one ounce^ with four or five grains of rhubarb,^ 
This composition being shaken, will pretty well unite. 
A teaspoonful may be given as often as you find it ne- 
cessary. 

In case the milk be thrown up in a curdled state, a 
small quantity of salt will generally prevent it ; a cir- 
cumstance I would wish to have attended to ; as many 
children are subject to this complaint ; and it is a me- 
thod I have seldom known to fail, unless they are great- 
ly overfed. Whenever a child throws up the milk, it is 
to be considered as a complaint, and particularly so if 
it appears curdled ; because it has then passed through 
the first change it undergoes in the stomach, and conse- 
quently discovers that the stomach itself is too feeble to 
execute its further oflSce. In this case, sometimes the 



simmer for fi^e minutes, strain it through a lawn sieve, and make it 
palatable with a little sugar. This food corresponds well, in such 
complaints, with the curative intention. 
'^.SeeNote37, 



112 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

stomach abounds with too great an acidity, but more 
frequently it is loaded and oppressed by the quantity 
which has been given to the infant. Milk always cur- 
dles in the stomach ; and it is only a vulgar error to 
^uppose the contrary ; for by this means, it becomes a 
substantial ahment, and affords a proper nourishment to 
children and other animals ; whereas, if it continued in 
a fluid state, it would contribute but little to their sup- 
port. 

What we have next to observe, is the quantity of milk 
proper to be given to a new-born child, in the twenty- 
four hours. What think you, my dear ladies, of a Win- 
chester pint being a sufficient quantity for the day and 
night ! Methinks I hear an exclamation — O barbarous 
man i Under a pretence of correcting us, he intends 
to starve the little helpless creatures. Was there ever 
such a cruelty heard of before ? Allow a child only a 
pint of milk in a day ! Why, it would eat two quarts 
of pap, and still cry for more. Yet, after all surprise, 
an infant in' the month will receive, from one pint of 
milk, more real and good nourishment, than from ten 
quarts of pap, as it is called ; indeed I might say more 
nourishment than from any other kind of support : for, 
notwithstanding the juices which afford sustenance are 
all hquid, it is necessary they should contain the essence 
of substantial food : and although a man who is accus- 
tomed to daily labor, would soon be emaciated by living 
continually upon broths, yet milk alone would support 
his strength and spirits, because it curdles in the sto- 
mach, and therebv becomes a more solid and nutritious^ 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 113 

aliment. And, farther, let me again remind you, that 
not only the human species, but likewise all other ani- 
mals, receive their continual nourishment from a milky 
juice which is prepared in their own bodies from the 
aliment received, as was before explained in the fourth 
letter. 

There are, as we have mentioned, very great errors 
in the quantities as well as the qualities of infants' food.* 
It was before observed, that the stomachs of children 
should not be always crammed fiill. To this it is, in a 
great measure, owing, that they are so continually pu- 
king : a circumstance looked upon, by some, to be na^ 
tural and wholesome, who preposterously encourage this 
disposition by frequent vomits. But, surely, nature never 
intended more nourishment to be received, than is ne- 
f cessary for our support. Does any person in a good 
state of health, after a moderate and proper meal, ever 
find an inclination to throw it up again ? Are the young 
offspring of other animals constantly puking ? How, 
therefore, can it be supposed natural for children to do 
so ? A little reflection would soon convince such su- 
perficial observers of their error ; for you will rarely 
find a child throw up its food, when properly nursed. 

If one pint of milk, therefore, in the first week or 
two, be too little, it is an error on the right side ; for it 
appears to be enough to support the child ; and much 
worse consequences are to be apprehended from giving 
it too much. We must, every one of us, have often ex- 



* See Note 38. 
10* 



♦ 14 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

perienced how necessary it is to be hungry, in order to 
rehsh our food ; and that to be continually indulging, 
palls the appetite. Certainly then, it must be equally 
necessary that the infant stomach should sometimes 
know the sense of hunger. 

Would not three or four pints of milk, in the twenty- 
four hours, support a grown person ? If so, undoubted- 
ly, one third part is amply sufficient to nourish a new- 
born child. But I would not be understood to cavil 
scrupulously for a spoonfuU or two ; I only mean to as- 
sist the candid inquirer in this most essential part of the 
management of children, who are denied the breast. 

We come next to ascertain the proper quantity to be 
given for a meal. A quarter of a pint is fully sufficient 
to be taken at a time ; and let the hours of feeding, as 
well as every other particular, be regulated according to 
the rules laid down in the seventh letter. In ten days, 
or a fortnight, you may increase the daily allowance a 
quarter of a pint : and at the end of a month, you may 
allow a pint and a half in the- twenty-four hours : an- 
other half-pint may be gradually permitted by the time 
it is three months old ; and this quantity, if the child is 
voracious, may be still increased to three pints in the 
day ; v/hich, I am persuaded, if the milk be good, will 
prove sufficient : and this allowance will, I hope, cancel 
the severity of every matron's censure. 

Having now given you my thoughts upon this part of 
infant management, there is but one rational objection 
that strikes me, against the propriety of so plain and 
simple a method of bringing children up by hand. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 115 



Their natural food is allowed to be milk — but it may be 
urged, that the human milk, in consequence of the mo* 
ther's diet, is more strengthening than that of cows, 
asses, or any species of brutes. Granted — ^but then 
again this argument equally proves, that cow's milk par- 
takes more of a vegetable nature than the milk of wo- 
men ; and, during, the early months, all that the advo- 
cates for the present custom would contend for, is — 
what ? pap, panado, &lc, which are of the vegetable 
kind ; and therefore, their arguments require no farther 
answer. Were it proposed to add some proper broths 
to cow's milk, after the first four or five weeks, where 
there is no circumstance particularly to forbid it, the de- 
sign would appear reasonable, m supplying the supposed 
deficiency of the animal property ; and it is a point I 
would readily join in, nay, it is what I mean to recom- 
mend towards the end of the third month. I frequently 
order milk and broth to be mixed together, and think it 
proper food. But let every such meal, however, as be- 
fore advised, supply the place of the usual milk. In 
whatever way you manage children, be careful not to 
feed them over-much. 

There is yet a circumstance of great moment to be 
attended to, and, if rightly comprehended by my fair 
pupils, will convince them, that the allowance for the 
earlier months is amply sufficient ; it is the manner in 
which infants ought to be fed. 

Surely it is wrong .to put a large boat full of pap into 
their little mouths, suffering them to swallow the whole 
of it in the space of a minute ; and then perhaps, from 



116 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

their cries, to ply them with a second, which is no soon- 
er down than thrown up again. 

We have mentioned the ill consequences of grown 
persons devouring their victuals too eagerly ?* and ex- 
perience must often have convinced every one, that a 
much less quantity than we generally take, if eaten lei- 
surely, and well chewed, will suffice for a meal ; and 
also that, after such meals, we seem more comfortable, 
and are inclined to pursue either business or pleasure 
with far greater ease to ourselves. On the contrary, 
from a too hasty and hearty meal, the stomach will be 
distended over-much, which is always productive of in- 
dolence, and a tendency to sleep. The same must cer- 
tainly hold good, with respect to infants. 

Besides, to obtain milk from the breast, nature wise* 
ly obliges them to earn their nourishment by the labor 
of drawing it. The stream being exceedingly small 
upon the milk's first coming into the breast; it requires 
a long time to procure a quarter of a pint ; and the 
very exercise fatigues them, before they have received too 
much. This, in my opinion, fully proves tTiat quantity 
to be sufficient for a meal. 

There is nothing, therefore, wanting, I hope, to com- 
plete our system, but a contrivance to supply the place 
of a nipple, that the child may still labor to obtain its 
support ; which alone will greatly prevent the error in 
quantity. I have seen some inventions of this kind, by 
means of parchment or leather sewed to the pointed 



=« See Note 39. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 117 

end of a horn, which is no bad thought, and capable of 
great improvement. The Hollanders, when they travel, 
have a small pewter vessel, somewhat in the form of a 
cone, which is filled with milk, and a piece of sponge 
covered with a linen cloth is tied over the smaller end. 
This serves the children very well as an artificial nipple ; 
for it is observed, that a Dutch woman seldom or never 
gives suck to her child before strangers. 

We have plainly demonstrated, that infant nourish- 
ment, particularly in the early months, is designed by 
nature to be altogether liquid : against such contri- 
vances, therefore, I cannot see an objection. 

Would you, my fair friends, undertake this pursuit, 
from the happy fertility of female imagination, I am 
certain a little experience would point out to you a 
ready and convenient method to answer every purpose ; 
and I am thoroughly satisfied, the happy consequences 
would amply reward your pains — by preserving many 
dear little innocents, that daily fall a sacrifice to reple- 
tion or over-feeding. 

P. S. — Since this book made its first appearance, I 
have contrived a milk-pot for my own nursery upon the 
above principles ; it appears to my family, and to many 
of my patients, preferable to those now in use, and may 
probably be still farther improved. For the satisfaction 
of my readers, I shall give a description of it. This 
pot is somewhat in form like an urn ; it contains a little 
more than a quarter of a pint : its handle, and neck or 
spout, are not unlike those of a coffee-pot, except that 
the neck of this arises from the very bottom of the pot, 



118 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



and is very small ; in short, it is upon the same principle 
as those gravy-pots which separate the gravy from the 
oily fat. The end of the spout is a little raised, and 
forms a roundish knob, somewhat in appearance like a 
small heart ; this is perforated by three or four small 
holes : a piece of fine rag is tied loosely over it, which 
serves the child to play with instead of the nipple, and 
through which, by the infant's sucking, the milk is con- 
stantly strained. The child is equally satisfied as it 
would be with the breast : it never wets him in the least ; 
he is obliged to labor for every drop he receives, in the 
same manner as when at the breast ; and, greatly in re- 
commendation of this contrivance, the nurses confess it 
is more convenient than a boat, and that it saves a great 
deal of trouble in the feeding of an infant ; which is the 
greatest security to parents, that their servants will use 
it, when they themselves are not present. 



LETTER X. 

OP 

CUTTING TEETH 



LETTER X. 

v'i general management of children^ from the time of Weaning^ till 
they are about two years old — with observations upon the Cutting 
of Teeth. 

I AM just now returned from a nursery, where, with sin- 
cere pleasure, I beheld a happy mother with a pretty 
little puppet at her breast, which she had the satisfaction 
of saving in its earliest days, by her amiable affection 
and tenderness ; an infant born under melancholy cir- 
cumstances, when the mother herself was afflicted with 
a terrible quincy in her throat, and had been confined 
to a sick chamber five or six weeks before her delivery. 
^o one expected the life of the child, and the mother's 
was equally doubtful. Nothing but the greatest care 
on her part could have saved the infant ; and, had it 
been committed to any other person, the diseased state 
of its bowels at the birth would, probably, very soon 
have put a period to its existence. 

Judge, ye considerate fair, indulge with me the plea- 
sing reflections of this good woman ! Behold her, 
fondling at the breast a smiling boy, to whom she not 
only gave a being, but generously preferred his welfare, 
and dared, even contrary to the advice of her friends, to 
suckle him, thereby endangering her own, to preserve 
the life of her child. May gratitude and duty expand 
within his breast, and prompt him virtuously to reward 

11 



122 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

this truly maternal affection I May he, in future years, 
become the pleasure and support of her declining life I 

This amiable mother has three other little ones, that 
for health and beauty stand almost unrivalled ; all nur- 
tured under her own wing — supported by her breast. 
What an encouragement is this to follow nature I Her 
heart was never torn by the bitter reflection of not 
having done her duty to her family. Example glorious ! 
worthy of praise — worthy of imitation ! 

But to return to our present point : the suckling be- 
ing weaned, and the dry-nursed child brought equally 
forward ; we shall now join our different nurseries to- 
gether, and endeavor to make them thrive under one 
general direction. 

I must, however, beg leave to mention, that as I be- 
fore advised to have the child kept to the breast till it is 
near twelve months old, and have also pointed out the 
prudent manner of introducing broths and jellies, pre- 
parative to weaning it entirely ; so this letter is design- 
ed to recommend a proper management of infants from 
the period of one to two years of age. 

The best method likewise having been laid down for 
bringing children up by hand, upon those principles that 
approach nearest to nature, which surely renders them 
unexceptionable ; and having indulged them with broths 
and jellies earlier than the sucking child ; I shall sup- 
pose these also gradually brought on to the twelfth 
month, and thence proceed with both together. 

I most earnestly recommend that they be strictly con- 
fined to the following diet, and not fed oftener than 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 123 



three, or four times at most in the twenty-four hours. 
The quantity for each meal may now with propriety be 
considerably increased ; it will be longer, therefore, of 
consequence, before the stomach becomes empty. 

Thus, for instance, let their breakfast, at six or seven 
in the morning, be half a pint of new milk, with about 
two ounces of bread in it. The second meal should be 
half a pint of good broth, with the same quantity of 
bread ; let this be given about ten or eleven in the 
morning. The third meal, about two or three in the 
afternoon, should be broth in like manner : and their 
supper, about six in the evening, new milk and bread, 
the same as for breakfast. When you substitute jellies, 
or gravies, for broth, let them be always plain and sim^ 
pie ; and a less quantity will prove sufficient. 

If children are thirsty between their meals, a little 
barley-water and milk may be given them ; but I would 
not too frequently encourage this custom. 

From hence, the general intention appears through- 
out, to decrease the quantity of milk, as you introduce 
other substantial and proper nourishment — though I 
would always allow children a pint of milk each day.* 

Biscuits, sweet-meats, sugar plums, &c., all which 
tend to spoil the appetite, are highly improper, and 
ought to be looked upon as one of the pernicious effects 
of luxury. Where is there a child, unaccustomed to. 
such indulgence, that would not be equally pleased with 
a crust of bread ? It is not my business here to enter 



* See Note 40. 



124 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

SO philosophically into the doctrine of nourishment, as 
to contend with those who suppose it altogether to 
proceed from the saccharine qualities of food : but 
allowing them the utmost force of their arguments, I 
answer, that nature will always prove the best chymist, 
to separate these sugar-like particles from the aliment 
we take in. So much for the present, with regard to 
the regulation of their diet. 

As to other particulars : little or no sleep should now 
be permitted in the day. Air and exercise are greatly 
to be recommended. Let them rise as early as you 
please ; and the sooner they are put to bed, when the 
evening begins to shut in, the better. Their clothing 
should now, and indeed always, be light and easy. By 
no means suffer children to be confined in very warm 
rooms, but accustom them, by degrees, to those varia- 
tions of the seasons, which they w^ill be compelled to 
struggle with in future life. 

It is a great misfortune for children to be brought up 
too tenderly. Should Providence hereafter design them 
to contend with difficulties, how little capable will they 
be of conquering them ? The child, thus nurtured, most 
commonly grows up too delicate and feeble to encoun- 
ter hardships. Should necessity, or chance, hereafter 
lead him to seek his fortune on the raging seas, or to 
bear his part in the hardy service of his country by land ; 
how pitiful will such a man appear ! How unequal to 
the necessary toils of sieges, storms, and tempests ! — 
But, however, this great error, to the credit of good 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 125 

mothers be it confessed, is, of late years, much cor- 
rected. 

I beg leave, my fair friends, to say something con- 
cerning their being put upon their feet. With respect 
to the time, the strength of the child must determine 
that period. Of this be assured, that all children will 
show an inclination to walk, as soon as their bones 
have acquired a firmness sufficient to support the body. 
I am fearful many heavy children are injured by exci- 
ting their feeble efforts to walk too soon. Doubtless it 
is a convenience and ease to nurses to set them upon 
their feet, as they do not then require exercise in the 
arms ; and consequently are not so great a trouble and 
fatigue to those who have the care of them. But it is 
a fault entirely to be condemned, and what I particularly 
caution you against ; because, v/hoever you may have 
to attend upon your children, they will certainly encou- 
rage them to walk, for reasons above mentioned. 

Therefore, throw aside your leading-strings, and your 
back-strings, and every other crafty invention which 
tends to put children forwarder than nature designed. 
Our young plants are to be cultivated without art. The 
industrious gardener, it is true, can boast of his exotics, 
and early fruits, by forcing their growth. Yet say, ye 
sons of Epicurus, are your grapes or pines, thus raised, 
equal to the produce of their natural climate ? And not- 
withstanding the merit of your gardener, who is thus ca- 
pable of gratifying this high zest of luxurious extrava- 
gance ; even in this your boasted pride, a simple clown 
Avould be wise enough to expose your folly, by the 

11* 



126 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

honest preference which he would give to nature. Such 
as the fruits are, watery and insipid ; such also are the 
plants thus forced, weakly and tender ; susceptible of 
the shghtest injuries, and exposed to continual dangers : 
such, likewise, are the poor feeble infants, forced upon 
their legs before nature has designed them ; while 
others, managed without art, like fruitful vines, defy the 
inclement seasons, and triumph in their natural strength 
and vigor. 

I do not mean, from what has been said upon this 
subject, to prevent tkem^ when they really show an 
inclination to walk, but to admonish you against being 
too precipitate. It is, in my opinion, a good method to 
suffer the little creatures first to crawl upon a carpet, or 
any other convenient place ; permitting them to tumble 
about as much as they please. By this means, an ex- 
ercise will be given to the body and limbs, without their 
continuing in one position long enough to hazard a 
distortion, from too great a weight of body. Thus let 
them, by degrees, learn to walk upright, which their 
own inclinations, in imitation of those about them, will 
prompt them to, full as soon as nature designed. 

I shall now beg leave to offer a few hints with respect 
to the teeth : a circumstance this materially to be at- 
tended to^ as woful experience daily convinces us. 

Children are teazed with cutting of teeth from four 
or five months, till they are two years old, and upwards ; 
nay, some are so backward as not to have their com- 
plete number till they are turned of three years old. I 
shall not enter into the distinction of teeth, but speak 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 127 

©f them in general, so as to give a competent idea of 
the precautions I mean to recommend. 

It is also very uncertain with respect to the exact 
time of their shooting any of their teeth ; but this also, 
I believe, chiefly depends upon the strength of the con- 
stitution ; and if the rules laid down in the preceding 
letters be properly observed, you will generally find 
children cut all their teeth by the time they are about 
two years old. You will, likewise, rarely meet with an 
instance of their being cut with difficulty. It has 
been already taken notice of, that the reason of their 
being backward in their teeth, and so many children 
lost on this account, is entirely owing to a weakness of 
body, which is a fact that scarcely any one will deny. 

Yet, where the constitution is not strong enough of 
itself, as a great assistance may be obtained by lancing 
of the gums, let not a false tenderness prevent fond mo- 
thers from allowing such rehef to their little babes, in 
the excrutiating tortures they suffer by the cutting of 
teeth. The operation is not to be deemed pain ; for if 
you put any thing with a sharp edge into their mouths, 
they will save you the trouble of doing it, by pressing 
hard against the instrument, and cutting the gums 
themselves. 

When the teeth are discernible to the sight or touch, 
there is very little sense of feeling in the gum ; their 
tortures proceed from the sensibility of a membrane 
which surrounds the tooth. If that membrane is suffi- 
ciently divided, although the gum should again unite, 
there will be no more trouble ; for teeth thus lanced 



128 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

will gradually advance without future pain. Never, 
therefore, I say, let a prejudice like this hinder you 
from relieving such poor little helpless creatures."^ 

There are many persons, who, about the age of 
twenty, have two, and sometimes four, additional teeth, 
at the furthermost part of the jaws ; and, from the time 
of life in which they appear, they are called the teeth of 
wisdom. Let me desire such wise ones, sensible of the 
pain upon this occasion, to reflect how insupportable it 
must be to many infants, who perhaps are cutting the 
whole of their teeth almost at once ; at a time, too, 
when their tender frames are but little capable of bear- 
ing pain. Many grown persons are obliged to have 
such teeth lanced ; let them declare how^ much relief 
they found from this simple, but useful operation. 

Candid reasoning, from experience, is the surest way 
to conquer prejudices ; and those who give themselves 
leave to think upon the point with candor, will, I doubt 
not, allow the force of this argument. 

It may not be unseasonable, in this place, to give a 
caution, which those who lance teeth would do well to 
observe ; as carelessness or ignorance in the operation 
frequently frustrates the intended benefit. Let me ad- 
vise you not to depend upon old women, or nurses, who 
undertake to do it with crooked sixpences, and such 
like ineffectual means, 

We took notice a little above, that the pain arises, 
not from the gum, but from the sensibility of the mem- 



* See Note 4L 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 129 

brane which surrounds the teeth. It is not, therefore, 
sufficient to make a longitudinal incision into the gum, 
that being too commonly done without dividing this 
membrane ; in which case, instead of good, it does 
hurt. After cutting through the gum, the instrument 
should be drawn round the tooth ; and the person 
should be satisfied, that it grates in every part against 
the tooth, which will effectually divide this too sensible 
membrane. Where the gum is exceedingly tough, a 
transverse incision ought likewise to be made, and with 
these precautions, the operation will assuredly succeed. 
Parents cannot be too careful in this particular ; for I 
have often observed ill consequences from the careless- 
ness before mentioned.* 

In my observations upon children that are lost be- 
tween the age of five months and three years, I have 
found they are generally carried off either by sudden 
convulsions, or what is called a tooth-fever, or a wasting 
of the body : in the two last cases, the scene likewise is 
commonly closed with convulsive fits. 

The original cause of these disasters having been 
frequently noticed to proceed from the wrong ma- 
nagement of children, it appears equally evident to 
me, that the immediate cause of these fits almost always 
arises from want of strength in the constitution to cut 
the teeth. It is true, the bowels sometimes are greatly 
affected, which, indeed, generally attends a wasting of 
the body ; but then the immediate cause of such com- 

* See Note 42. 



130 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

plaints, at this time, is most commonly the teeth : for if 
children are capable of enduring the improper aliments 
before mentioned, in their most tender state, during the 
first four or five months ; surely, ^vithout some more 
active principle, the vital powers would not afterward 
be by them aione subdued. 

This makes me particularly solicitous to recommend 
lancing of the gums, before it is too late to assist child- 
ren ; being firmly persuaded that many might be saved^ 
who daily fall a sacrifice to those complaints for want 
of it. 

Among many other instances that I could relate, to 
show the necessity of admitting this operation before 
the strength of the child be decayed, and its body 
wasted, I shall conclude this letter with a remarkable 
case of this sort. 

A poor woman in the neighborhood, some time 
since, brought her child to me : he was, apparently, a 
stout, fine boy, and then about nine months old. She 
desired my advice for an eruption the child had all over 
his body, which she called the scurvy : but I found it 
nothing more than some pimples, proceeding from the 
improper quality of its food ; and in fact, notwithstand- 
ing the chubby appearance of the boy (which, in reality, 
was nothing more than bloated fat,) he was actually of 
a very weakly frame, as appears by the sequel — and I 
think it necessary, as a farther confirmation of my asser= 
tion, to inform you, that his father was at this time be« 
tween sixty and seventy, his mother not less than four 
or five and thirty years of age. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 131 

Near or quite six months afterwards, the same woman 
came to beg the favor of me to look at her child again, 
who, she said, was dying. I saw an infant worn away 
to a mere skeleton ; and, upon inquiry, I found it to be 
the same chubby, fat boy I had seen before. He lay 
panting for breath, and had taken httle or no nourish- 
ment for twenty-four hours. Upon examining the little 
patient, there was not a tooth appeared. The cause of 
the disease, therefore, was immediately evident to me ; 
but I told her it was too late to be of service, for I 
found the child could not recover. 

However, to satisfy the mother, I advised lancing the 
gums. To the astonishment of every one about the 
child, sixteen large teeth were cut out ; but the gums 
being very much hardened, for want of this operation, 
it was with no small difficulty now performed. The 
immediate relief which the child received, surprised 
them all still more. From a convulsive state that he 
before lay in, he instantly recovered, took notice of 
every body in the room, and, during the time I staid, 
eagerly devoured a considerable quantity of nourish- 
ment. 

The grateful parent thanked me a thousand times, 
and reflected upon herself for delaying to apply to me 
before. But, alas ! I foresaw it was only a temporary 
relief, his strength being utterly exhausted. I left her, 
without giving the least hopes of his recovery ; and the 
next morning the child died. A reflection upon this 
case, I take for granted, is entirely needless. It is evi- 



132 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

dent, had the teeth been cut in due time, this fatal acci- 
dent would not have happened. 

It is, indeed, a topic of serious concern ; but as it 
comes under the class of diseases to which infants are 
subject, it cannot be enlarged upon in this httle volume. 
Some opinions, and medical observations, are thrown 
out in the introduction to these letters, which, if care- 
fully attended to, may assist the inteUigent parent in her 
endeavors to preserve the lives of such little innocents. 
A table of births and infant burials is also inserted, 
which proves the melancholy truths I am aiming to esta- 
blish. 



LETTER XL 

OF THE 

NURSERY 



12 



LETTER XI 

.i general management of children, from two years old^ till they 
leave the nursery. 

The cultivation of the mind I have intentionally re- 
served for the subject of my next letter ; for which rea- 
son I shall nov;^ finish my observations upon nursing, and 
endeavor to point out the safest and most prudent method 
of introducing children into the mode of living, cus- 
tomary in their respective families. 

At length, after surmounting the difficulties and in- 
conveniences attending the cutting of their teeth, we 
have now set them upon their legs ; to the no small joy 
of the mother, and the relief of those servants whose 
business it is to wait upon them. 

We have hitherto permitted bread, milk, and the 
juices only of flesh ; and before we advance any farther, 
I beg leave to make the following remarks, by which my 
intelligent readers may profit. 

The food of man, in all its various shapes, however 
tortured and disguised, is still confined to animal and 
vegetable productions. 

Of vegetables, bread is the most valuable preparation, 
as the experience of ages proves. That made from 
wheat flour is still the most strengthening, and ever to 



136 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



■^ 



be preferred by those who have the means of obtain- 
ing it. 

The milk of cows, although it may be supposed not 
to partake so much of a strengthening nature as the 
human milk, those creatures feeding altogether upon 
vegetables, is, nevertheless, to be considered as a food 
partly animal, and partly vegetable, prepared also under 
an all-wise direction. 

Gravies, jeUies, and broths, we know, are animal 
juices ; either spontaneously flowing from flesh, upon 
cutting it, after it is dressed ; or obtained by a macera- 
tion of it in water. 

From these reflections, therefore, it appears, that in 
the regimen already permitted, the most valuable sup- 
plies of life are granted, and in a manner the best 
adapted to infant constitutions ; requiring but little ex- 
ertion of the digestive faculties, and gradually intro- 
ducing that nutriment, which, as the body becomes 
stronger, it must prepare for itself from the grosser ali- 
ments. 

The intention of what has been said is to encourage, 
as much as possible, the continuation of this diet a little 
longer ; and, indeed, some of the finest children I ever 
saw, have been chiefly confined to a food like this, for 
the first five or six years. But although I strongly re- 
commend it, and am conscious that children, unac- 
quainted with the indulgence of variety, would be per- 
fectly satisfied without animal food ; yet I am persuaded 
that the culpable fondness of most parents will initiate 
them, too early, into the luxuries of a plentifiil table. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 13' 



It is true, we made an observation, that nature never 
intended flesh for our food, until we had teeth to eat it ; 
but it by no means follows, as soon as we have our teeth, 
that with an unbounded freedom we are to devour ani- 
mal food. Remember, likewise, ye too indulgent pa- 
rents, it has been before observed, that every alteration 
in our manner of living should be brought about step by 
step, hasty transitions being always dangerous : and let 
this teach us to be cautious in our manner of admitting 
flesh into the meals of children. 

After what has been advanced, and after having given 
you my opinion, that it is yet time enough to suflfer 
children to eat flesh, I now leave this very important 
point to the discretion of parents : however, permit me 
to recommend, that when flesh is first introduced into 
their food, at whatever time it may be, this part of their 
diet should be allowed them but sparingly ; and a regard, 
also, should be paid to its quality. 

The flesh of domestic fowls, beef, mutton, and full 
grown animals in general, is the best. Crammed poul- 
try, calves, and house-fed lambs, kept up to fatten, are 
improper, because their juices yield by far less nourish- 
ment. 

Hence, beef tea, and mutton broth, are preferable to 
those made from lamb or veal. The flesh, also, of such 
young fattened animals does not pass away fi*om weak 
stomachs so easily as the other. 

High-seasoned gravies and soups, made dishes, and 
salted meats, are ever to be avoided ; though salt with 
their meats may be allowed, for the reasons before given. 

12^ 



138 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

Although it is not meant to confine them at this age 
so strictly to bread, I am by no means for permitting too 
free a use of vegetables ; being convinced, that some 
complaints of the bowels, in children more advanced in 
life, proceed from this error, and particularly worms :* 
since, if the eggs of these insects are not taken in, to- 
gether with these productions of the garden, on which 
they harbor and feed, yet this food at least affords a con- 
siderable quantity of slime, which, stagnating in the 
bowels, serves as an habitation for these pernicious lit- 
tle animals. This is my reason for allowing a little 
wine, now and then, to be given to children, and I am 
persuaded that I have seen its good effect. Care should 
be taken in the choice of vegetables ; those of the 
mealy kind, that approach the nearest to bread, are to 
be preferred, such as potatoes, rice, &c. Turnips are 
also good. Lettuces, and some few others, may, in 
moderation, be given to them, which your own prudence 
must point out. 

The kitchen preparations of milk, such as custards, 
blamange, white-pots, &c. are exceedingly proper ; and 
in this kind of food a greater variation may be indulged 
with less harm, being, for the most part, equally good 
and innocent. Salop mixed with milk, may be granted 
as oflen as you please ; and let it be remembered, that 
it is the best way of giving that nutritious vegetable to 
children and invalids. Eggs are good ; and if the yolks 
be beaten up with warm milk, without boiling, they 

^ Bee Note 43. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 139 

afford the best nourishment; yet, however they are 
dressed, never suffer children to eat them, if the yolks 
be hard. Puddings, in general, are likewise good ; but 
the most simple are best. Tarts and fruit pies may be 
allowed in moderation. 

Shell fish,^ and, indeed, most other kinds, may, now 
and then, be given ; but the firmest are to be preferred. 
These are the most prudent directions that occur to my 
memory ; but, after all, those are wisest who do not pam- 
per young children with too great a variety. 

I shall not trouble you with the curative part of dis- 
eases incident to children, that being altogether the con- 
cern of the physician ; though it would give me a real 
pleasure to see such complaints treated of, in a masterly 
manner, by some accurate observer of nature.! This 
present system of nursing is intended only to manage 
children so as to prevent illness ; and it has cost me no 
small pains to separate the two provinces, which, I hope, 
is effected to the satisfaction of my readers. 

As to rhubarb, Gascoign's powder,f magnesia, &c. 
every mother's observations in some measure direct a 
proper use of them ; but when disorders do not give 
way to such simple methods, there is no time to be lost. 
I beg leave, therefore, to caution parents, who can ob- 
tain the advice of an experienced practitioner, not to 
depend upon their own judgments so far, as to suffer 
a continuance of complaints until they exceed the power 



See Note 44. r See Note 4.5-. t See Note 46. 



140 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

of relief. Delays are always dangerous, with respect to 
disease, even in grown persons ; but they are much more 
so in children, because they have not equal strength, 
and consequently sooner sink under bodily infirmities. 



LETTER XII. 

CULTIVATIING THE 

DISPOSITION. 



LETTER XII. 

The necessity of cultivating the Dispositions of children^ to render 
them amiable and virtuoics. 

Confess, ye worthy parents, who know the height of 
earthly bhss, what temptations in Ufe could prevail upon 
you, after two or three years of age, to part from the 
dear, dear offspring of your mutual love ? Ye tender 
mothers, speak! I generously applaud an affection thus 
fondly riveted in the female breast, and answer for you, 
ladies, that nothing upon earth could prove equivalent 
to such a loss. Ten thousand soft enchantments bind 
them to your very souls. 

This is the time in which their little fond endearments 
begin to operate ; their every action is wonderfully en- 
gaging, and their pretty lisping tongues are one univer- 
sal harmony. How exquisite is the delight to view their 
expanding minds — now catching sound, that quickly 
rises into sense, beaming a happy prospect of future un= 
derstanding I Here the volume of man begins — even at 
this time the fertile genius glows. How transporting is 
their sweet sensibility ! 

O powerful nature, how unspeakably strong are thy 
ties ! What heart, unless strangely perverted, can resist 
thy impulse ? Hence arises the unspeakable difference 
of a laudable and virtuous passion, compared with an 
unchaste and vicious life. My God! that men should 



144 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

waste their health and fortunes in the stews with harlots^ 
rioting in obscene and brutal pleasures, where the ra- 
tional being is sunk even below pity ! 

Such conduct, in the cooler hours of thought, if ever 
they reflect, must cause nothing but anguish and re- 
morse ; on the contrary, by cultivating a chaste and 
honorable love, such wretched libertines might become 
the joyful parents of little smiling families. What an al- 
ternative is this ! Be dumb, ye lawless rovers ; it is an 
enjoyment beyond your comprehension, for virtuous 
minds alone can relish it. 

What number of debauchees, in different climes and 
ages, worn out by guilty intemperance, mournfully la- 
ment their cursed fate, in not being blest with an heir to 
succeed to their half-ruined fortunes ! Considerate Pro- 
vidence 1 thus to disappoint them — for what, but impurity 
and disease, could they give birth to ? Happy, thrice 
happy decree of nature, that virtue alone can claim a 
smiling and a healthful progeny. 

This is a theme worthy of an abler pen. How often 
has prattling innocence disarmed the rugged fierceness 
of a brutish nature, and melted down the rage of pas- 
sion into more than female softness ? How often, I say, 
by these means, is a man of wrath insensibly dissolved 
into tenderness and love 1 I must tear myself away 
from the digression : should I indulge my zealous incli- 
nation, a volume of panegyric would fall short of the 
subject.^ 



^ See Note 47. 



LETTERS TO 3IARRIED LADIES. 145 

The human mind, in its infant opening, has been 
justly compared to a blank sheet of paper, susceptible 
of every impression ; whence it may be supposed, 
children receive their prejudices and inclinations from 
the dispositions of those persons to whose care they are 
entrusted, in like manner as these letters convey the 
sentiments of the author. 

That any children are born with vicious inclinations, 
I would not willingly believe. When I hear parents 
exclaiming against the bad dispositions of their own 
children, I cannot help oftentimes secretly condemning 
the parents themselves, for introducing such vices into 
their habits. Instinct, even in brutes, produces a ten- 
derness for their young — a harmless society amongst 
their neighbors — a passive fear towards their enemies — 
and violence seldom is discovered but against those ani- 
mals which nature has appointed for their support. Can 
we then imagine that a worse than brutish fierceness 
should be naturally discernible in our infant state ? — that 
spite, mahce, anger, and revenge, such diaboHcal pas- 
sions, should tyrannize before we are capable of self- 
defence? The very supposition seems to me an ar- 
raignment of Providence in the noblest part of the 
creation, and appears to be inconsistent with the justice 
of a benevolent Deity.* 

It therefore becomes every mother to be watchful of 
her own conduct, and perfectly satisfied of the disposi- 
tions of such servants as she entrusts with the care of 



* See Note 48. 
13 



146 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES^ 



her children, at this susceptible time of life ; when even 
the more affectionately these persons treat them, the 
worse consequences are to be apprehended, if their own 
tempers are not good : for as children are gratefully fond 
of those who use them kindly, they are by far the more 
likely to imbibe the bad quahties of an indulgent atten- 
dant ; and, on the contrary, to profit by good examples. 

Objects that attract the eyes delight us first : the plea- 
sures from hearing are the next. From sight and sound 
ideas take their gradual rise. Hence, a partial fondness 
is formed by children towards those whose province it is 
to attend upon them ; and for this reason they are more 
fond of their nurses, who are constantly prattling to 
them, than of parents neglectful of their infancy. 

The want of duty and affection in children towards 
their parents, so much to be censured, and so generally 
Complained of, often proceeds from this early misma- 
nagement. The indifference, also, of too many parents 
towards their children, frequently owes its origin to de- 
priving themselves of the enjoyments of their little ones 
at this engaging season of life. Even to an uninterested 
person, the expanding of an infant mind is a delightful 
entertainment ; but to good parents, the pleasure and 
attachment must certainly prove exceedingly more 
agreeable and lasting. We must, indeed, pity those 
whom necessity deprives of this happy solace, but utterly 
condemn such whose inclinations drive their little nurs- 
lings from them. Unnatural and mistaken persons, who, 
if they are punished with undutiful children, suffer only 
in consequence of their own neglect ! 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 147 

Would you, my tender and considerate matrons, wish 
to see your children truly amiable ? Be then ever care- 
ful of yourselves. Endeavor, also, as much as possible, 
to prevent violent excess of passion in your husbands. 
This is a laudable task, and much more in the power of 
women than they generally imagine. Trust me, my 
fair ones, truly prudent and good wives, by bending a 
little to the rugged, headstrong, and boisterous disposi- 
tions of some husbands, may, for the most part, civilize 
them ; and by their endearing and soothing manners, in 
spite of early vicious habits, compel them to a behaviour 
of tenderness and love. Thus, by the example of an 
engaging deportment on your part, you will soften their 
tempers, so as to render them good husbands, good fa- 
thers, good masters, and valuable members of society. 

While, on the other hand, vindictive and peevish wo- 
men not only forfeit this female importance, but too 
frequently estrange their husbands' affections from them : 
and need I say that this want of harmony and sincere 
friendship, between man and wife, is a dangerous pat- 
tern for their children ? 

From the strong force of example, it becomes in a 
manner natural to the children of such persons to give 
an unbridled loose to every impulse ; nay, their emula- 
tion is soon engaged to become equally tyrannical with 
their parents. On the contrary, where no such prece- 
dents are before their eyes — where impassioned and 
youthful love keeps pace with sentimental friendship— 
where the polite and well bred man shows a virtuous in= 
clination towards his wife ; and they both join in a pro- 



148 LETTERS TO SIARRIED LADIES. 

per regard for their children — how much reason have 
we to expect that their young and tender minds will be 
impressed with virtue ! Nay ! I dare aver, that, iBrom this 
rectitude of behaviour, such parents will generally be 
rewarded with good and dutiful children. 

With respect to the management of children, how 
shall we draw the Hne between indulgence and severity ? 
Although they are diametrically opposite to each other, 
it is scarcely possible to be done ; nay, it cannot be de- 
termined, so as to admit of absolute decision. Children 
necessarily require a different treatment, even from their 
natural disposition, as it is usually called ; and a conduct 
indulgent to some, will prove the greatest severity to 
others. Let it, therefore, be remembered, that our plan 
is to subdue the first irregular emotions in the bud, so as 
to prevent them from rising into passions, 

I would, then, at all events, earnestly recommend tern- 
per and forbearance to those who have the government 
of their infant years. Kind treatment, good words, 
and a generous encouragement, to most dispositions, 
will prove equal to every thing that you require of them : 
and if they can be conquered by such laudable and gen- 
tle means, you not only carry the first points in the most 
eligible manner, but accustom them also to an obliging 
behaviour, and excite their emulation to endeavor to 
please. 

Carefully, therefore, observe every emotion that is 
praiseworthy, and let a reward accompany it ; for the 
encouragement of one virtuous impulse will have a 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 149 

much happier effect than the correction of a hundred 
faults. 

Such are the impressions necessary to form a virtuous 
mind, and they will certainly grow up into their habits. 
On the contrary, where children's dispositions are un- 
toward ; if they be subdued by harsh words, threats, and 
chastisement, how are their tempers ruffled by such treat- 
ment ! — and what is to be expected but that they consi- 
der severity and violence as the only means for them to 
obtain any point over others, whom they may have a 
future occasion to contend with ? What a wretched 
foundation of perpetual disquietude ! 

Where reproof is necessary, mortification is undoubt- 
edly the best means of correction ; and let an acknow- 
ledgement of the fault prove the means of reconcilia- 
tion. 

''*■ And next to rights pray condescend 
T' acknowledge doing wrongs my friend." 

This humbles them in their own opinions ; it necessarily 
begets shame ; and before a disposition is hardened into 
vice, shame will always produce amendment. 

Moreover, in this case there is no object for resent- 
ment, that great support of pride ; consequently it initi- 
ates them to consider thoroughly their own conduct, and 
of course to dwell upon the cause for which they are 
thus humbled. What, therefore, can more thoroughly 
conduce to render children amiable as they grow up, 
than the accustoming of them to a retrospection of their 

13* 



150 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

own behaviour, and to an inward condemnation of their 
faults, of which their making a concession is sufficient 
proof ? 

Even in the most trifling promise a parent can make to 
children, I most earnestly recommend that it be reli- 
giously adhered to ; otherwise you teach them a shock- 
ing lesson of deceit. 

For equivocation and falsity, their mortifications 
ought to be exceedingly severe ; but in every point 
where you find it necessary to correct ; be sure you 
make them truly sensible of their error : at the same 
time, in every misdemeanor, be thoroughly satisfied 
that it proceeds from a culpable emotion, before you 
reprove it ; for it sometimes falls out, that wrong actions 
may proceed fi-om laudable intentions. 

How often in life does it happen, that exceptions are 
taken against a friend, who is at that very time actually 
meditating the angry person's advantage ; and yet, per- 
haps, appearances so blind him that he thinks of nothing 
but revenge, until an eclaircissement takes place, when 
he as passionately reproaches himself for his ingratitude ! 
The case is still harder with children ; for, when they 
are punished wrongfully, it is seldom that they have it 
in their power to clear themselves ; and farther, they 
may probably suppose their own good emotions to be 
the guilty cause, and thereby endeavor to suppress a 
rising virtue. 

Indulgence over much is liable to produce effects 
equally bad, as extreme severity ; for as the latter inures 
them to every act of violence, so the former encourages 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES, 151 

the breach of every civil duty that thwarts their selfish 
inclinations. 

But the greatest misconduct of all arises from these 
two opposite ways of management being united together 
in the widest extreme ; when one moment the little 
creatures bones are almost broken for a fault of which 
it is scarcely sensible, and the next moment it is fondly 
cherished to reconcile it to the mistaken parent ; and in 
return, not improbably, indulged in exercising its rage 
upon toys, in torturing birds, dogs, cats, and such-like 
domestic animals, as infant tyranny can lord it over ; and 
permitted, also, at the window, to sport with the lives of 
little buzzing insects, that fall a sacrifice to wanton 
cruelty. 

The child who is fondly and foolishly indulged, pro- 
mises only a melancholy prospect ; but where, on the 
other hand, as is too generally seen, an occasional seve- 
rity inures it to cruelty, the disposition is inevitably 
ruined. The consequences of such severity and such 
indulgence fill the mind with every disagreeable appre- 
hension : and, indeed, what can they produce but inor- 
dinate desires, brutish rage, and violence ? 

Those parents who are happy enough to subdue their 
own passions, and thereby set their children proper ex- 
amples, will have very little cause for complaint against 
them : on the contrary, such as are perpetually quarrel- 
ling with each other, with their children, servants, and 
every body around them, cannot expect much peace 
and comfort from their rising famiUes. But if they will 
take this friendly advice, to correct their own errors 



152 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

only once, for every hundredth time they chastise others, 
it will probably bring about some amendment in them- 
selves ; and the force of their example must surely pro- 
duce the best effect upon their household.* 

We have now conducted children through the differ- 
ent stages of helpless infancy, and gradually introduced 
them, though as yet but junior characters, upon the 
grand theatre of life ; where the happy effects of such 
careful regulations are generally to be distinguished. As 
to literary improvements, they properly come under an- 
other jurisdiction, and, therefore, claim your future con- 
sideration. Nevertheless, a condescending obliging- 
ness, a sweet affability, an unassuming sensibility, and a 
modest deportment, ever denote the proper education of 
a female mind. In like manner, prudence, abstemious- 
ness, and virtuous dispositions in men, most frequently 
proceed from the good impressions of childhood. Severe 
stripes, and harsh usage, add fuel to a turbulent and re- 
vengeful spirit, and too frequently render a sullen boy 
maUcious : on the other hand, the indulged and spoiled 
child commonly turns out an abandoned libertine. 

Thus, my fair ones, you may easily discover how 
much society is interested in your motherly conduct, at 
this early time ; ^' for, as the twig is bent the tree will 
grow ;" and the seeds of iniquity, in those dispositions 
where virtue is not planted, unavoidably, as it were, 
take root, and spring up without much cultivation. 

Every notorious vice shows an utter contempt for the 

* See Note 49. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 153 



moral duties of life ; and the man whose character is 
infamous, seems but little to regard the opinion of others : 
therefore the good fame and chastity of women become 
his ridicule and sport. Such men are continually as- 
saulting their virtue, and aiming at their seduction. Of 
consequence, the darhng, who has never been curbed 
in the early impulses of erroneous incUnations, will 
prove to be very little capable of subduing the tempestu- 
ous passions of youth ; which will not only hurry him 
on to his own ruin, but also, too generally, occasion the 
disgrace, infamy, and destruction of many unfortunate 
young women. 

Thus it appears, how greatly the happiness and pros- 
perity of the fair sex are affected by the sensual miscon- 
duct of ours ; insomuch that, in the present instance, 
women as well as men must feel degraded. 



LETTER XIII 



OF 



MILK. 



LETTER XIII. 

Of Milk — Its properties examined — the different kinds of Milk cmi- 
pared with each other — and their particular virtues explained. 

Milk has been recommended, in several letters, as the 
proper food for infants ; and in the fourteenth and 
fifteenth it is again spoken of, as being equally neces- 
sary for invalids*^ and aged persons. It shall, therefore, 
be the business of this letter to examine so far into the 
qualities of milk, and into the milk of different animals, 
as may enable us to determine what kind of milk is, 
upon different occasions, to be preferred ; which will 
take in every thing, not elsewhere observed upon this 
subject. 

Milk was before remarked to be a kind of white 
blood, prepared by the mother for the support of her 
young ; so far we may speak of it in general terms 

In different animals, therefore, it is reasonable to 
suppose, and fact confirms our supposition, that the 
qualities of milk are also different : hence, by first ex- 
amining into its general properties, and from those 
principles, setting forth the peculiar variations in the 
milk of different animals, we shall arrive at the desired 
conclusion. 



^ See Note 50. 
14 



158 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

In milk, by stepping into the dairy, we may discern 
three principal component parts. After it has remain- 
ed some time in an undisturbed state, the cream floats 
upon the surface. It is the least in quantity, though 
most nourishing, of an oily, balsamic substance, and 
inflammable in its nature, as the butter, which is made 
from it, plainly demonstrates. 

A lady, before whom I once made some experiments, 
asked me why the cream floated upon the surface ; for 
being, continued she, the thickest part, ought it not 
rather to sink to the bottom ? I told her, it was the 
thickest part, to be sure, but at the same time it was 
also the lightest ; specifically so, as oil is lighter than 
water, and therefore rises to the top. 

The cream being taken off", the remaining milk ap- 
pears bluish, and thinner than before ; and when thus 
robbed of its thick, creamy part, it consequently is not 
so smooth to the palate. 

On the addition of runnet, or, indeed, any acid, a 
separation of the two remaining parts soon takes place, 
and we discover the curd. This, being the heaviest, 
when separated from the whey, falls to the bottom. It 
is the least valuable part of the milk, glutinous in its 
nature, and composed of the most earthy particles, be- 
ing also of an astringent quality. 

The third and only remaining part, being the whey 
of the milk, is the largest in quantity, of a diluting and 
cleansing property. 

Let us now by this standard compare the different 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 159 



kinds of milk, mostly in use with us, and apply them to 
the purposes for which they seem best calculated. 

The human milk, when drawn from the breast, has 
exactly the same bluish appearance as cow's milk when 
the cream is taken off. It affords very little cream, and 
but a small qu iiitity of curd ; therefore the whey consti- 
tutes the chief part : but the more healthy the woman 
is, and particularly if between the age of twenty and 
thirty, the more her milk abounds with rich creamy 
balsam, and the more it also contains of the curd or 
earthy particles : probably from her constitution being, 
at this time, in full vigor, and the digestive powers, 
therefore, more* perfect. 

These observations will point out the best substitute, 
where the breast is denied, and will likewise direct 
those who prefer wet-nursing, in the choice of the more 
proper person ; for there is, in my opinion, an equal 
objection against the milk of a very young girl, as 
against that of a woman almost past child-bearing. The 
cleansing quality, before taken notice of, in a breast of 
new milk, will also, together with reason and expe- 
rience, shaw the propriety of recommending those wo- 
men who have not been long delivered. 

Ass's milk is generally allowed to be the nearest to 
the human, and, according to the above experiments, 
we find it so, abounding mostly with whey, and having 
little of the cream or curd in it. Hence, after a severe 
fit of illness, where the body is much emaciated, and the 
stomach weak, or where the blood is loaded with sharp, 
acrid humors, the cleansing quality of ass's milk deserves 



160 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

a preference to that of any other animal which is used 
for this purpose. In consumptive cases, or where there 
is a slow, habitual fever, it is justly to be preferred, until 
such time as the constitution may have gained a little 
strength, when the more nourishing ought to supply its 
place. 

Mare's milk is esteemed to be much the same as 
ass's ; but this, indeed, is in very little use. 

Cow's milk comes next under consideration. This 
appears to be the richest and most nourishing of any of 
the brutes' milk here mentioned. It abounds with a 
great deal of cream ; for, after standing twelve hours, 
and being skimmed, it appears equal to any other milk. 
It contains also a large quantity of curd ; and, after ail, 
even the whey is by far more nutritious than any other. 

We observed that ass's milk, in the experiments^ 
mostly resembles the human. Why then not prefer 
that to cow's milk, for the food of children ? I do not 
totally deny the use of this milk for that purpose ; but 
in our part of the country, it is very expensive, and 
cannot be obtained in any large quantity ; for which 
reason it would be impracticable to bring it into general 
use.* 

There is, likewise, another reason which inclines me 
to give a preference to cow's milk ; for, notwithstand- 
ing the similarity of human milk to that of asses, the 
first may well be supposed most strengthening, since 
women usually feed on animal, as well as vegetable 

•^ See Note 51, 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 16 i 

diet, while the brutes we speak of are confined entirely 
to vegetables. Whence, if we substitute ass's milk, we 
shall fall short of the nourishment nature designed for 
us ; and, therefore, for a young child, who requires a 
heartening diet, the milk of cows, in my opinion, is pre- 
ferable, as the richness of it is, in some measure, ade- 
quate to the supposed difference in the qualities of 
human milk, and that of other animals. 

The milk of sheep and goats consists mostly of the 
curd, or earthy particles : hence, where the blood ves- 
sels are injured by acrid humors, and frequent bleedings 
happen from this cause, or where children are subject 
to the rickets, from a weakness of the bones, that milk, 
which abounds mostly with the curd, or cheesy part, 
seems best calculated to answer the intention ; its 
earthy, mucilaginous, and astringent property having 
the greatest tendency to heal such ruptured vessels, and 
to give a firmness to the bones ; but as these milks 
possess less of the cleansing power, it will, in most 
cases, particularly in bleedings, be propter to use the 
more attenuating kind first. 

We have now examined the different milks familiar 
to us, and, from their different properties, pointed out 
the end each sort seems best calculated to answer ; 
whence every person will quickly be determined which 
to give the preference to in particular complaints. 

When any one first begins to eat milk, especially if it 
be one indulging freely in the luxuries of the palate, it 
may probably purge a little ; but such inconveniences 
will most commonly be removed, by accustoming the 

14^^ 



162 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

constitution to the use of it ; and boiling the milk will, 
in a great measure, prevent this effect. I have always 
remarked, that those, who, by reason of a pampered 
appetite, complain of milk and vegetables being windy, 
and not agreeing with them, are the very persons who 
most require such a diet ; for it is the debauched state 
of the stomach and bowels, that occasions their uneasi- 
ness, which this regimen seems the most likely to 
correct. 

I have recommended a little salt to be mixed with 
milk, before it is given to children, if they are apt to 
throw it up curdled, and shall mention the experiment 
which induced me to give that advice ; since it is 
equally worthy the attention of grown persons, some of 
whom make this an objection to their eating milk ; as I 
am inclined to believe such precaution will render it 
agreeable to most constitutions. 

I put two ounces of milk, warm as it came from the 
cow, into a tea-cup, with a little common salt ; I put 
the same quantity, of the like warmth, into another tea- 
cup, without salt ; then dropping a very little distilled 
vinegar into each, a hard curd presently appeared in 
that milk which had no salt in it, while the other with 
the salt was scarcely altered. 

I tried the same experiment again, with a large tea- 
spoonful of runnet, and observed the milk, which had 
the salt in it, to continue in its fluid state, while the 
other grew thick and turbid, and almost instantly 
separated into curds and whey. This last experiment 
answered the best, and is much more to our purpose 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 163 

than the former. From these hints, it seems reasona- 
ble to conclude, that salt, taken with milk, might 
equally prevent the too hasty curdling of it, where there 
is a great acidity in the stomach ; in which case, the 
curdled milk having too quickly assumed a solidity, be- 
comes troublesome ; and because it is not as yet 
designed to pass into the bowels for the office of 
nourishment, a part of this load is generally discharged 
by vomiting. Moreover, the stimulating quality of salt 
will greatly assist a weak digestion, and thereby facili- 
tate the passage of the milk from the stomach into the 
bowels ; and from experience, in recommending it to 
children who used to throw up their milk in a curdled 
state, I am fully convinced of its utility. 

In all cases, where infirmities or age require a pru- 
dent regimen, I have directed a similar care to that of 
dieting children. Milk, therefore, comprehends a very 
material part of such food ; and I am fully persuaded, 
that, if it were more universally used, the world, in 
general, would be greatly benefitted. I do not, how- 
ever, mean to be understood, that I debar those from 
a reasonable quantity of animal food, who are capable 
of digesting it. But such as are emaciated by illness, 
or have the misfortune to labor under gouty complaints ; 
such, also, as are consumptively inchned, or those who 
have crazy, infirm constitutions, and are subject to an 
habitual feverish disposition, will do right to eat flesh 
only once in the day, and, for the rest of their nourish- 
ment, to live almost, if not altogether, upon niilk. 



LETTER XIV 



OF THE 



SICK CHAMBER. 



LETTER XIV. 

The Sick Chamber — with directions^ also, for Invalids. 

We are now, my dear ladies, entering the sick cham= 
ber, in which, as well as in the nursery, many amiable 
characters may be drawn. Here, the conjugal affection 
of a wife is laudably displayed — the tender love of a 
mother fondly exerts itself — the gratitude and duty of a 
daughter are conspicuous — the good sister, also, endears 
herself to a worthy brother — and female friendship wears 
a thousand additional charms ! * 

Let us picture a truly tender and good wife, in this 
exalted character ! Let us suppose, that she has de- 
served recompense, by restoring to her chaste and long- 
ing arms the distinguished choice of her youthful love, 
ennobled by a generous sympathy of virtuous inclina- 
tions ? 

Let us imagine this happy man perfectly recovered 
from a dangerous and painful illness ; to which reco- 
very her unwearied attendance proved greatly instru- 
mental ; his mind, likewise, impressed with every 
thought a consciousness of such an obligation can in- 
spire I Behold the husband admiring her transcendant 
excellency ; while the honest tear, perchance, trickling 
down his cheek, betrays the big emotion of a grateful 
heart. ^^ She, on her part, with looks of cordial love, 



168 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

awhile in silent rapture glows — then on bended knees 
adores her Maker" — returns most fervid thanks, for that 
her prayer of sorrow has been heard, that He has gra- 
ciously restored the husband and the father I How great 
must be their reciprocal felicity ! 

I shall now proceed to those instructions which are 
necessary for the proper execution of this friendly office. 
There is a certain impertinence frequently proceeding 
from laudable motives, which, nevertheless, is totally 
culpable : I mean, the desire of our acquaintance to 
visit a sick chamber. It is oftentimes, I acknowledge? 
the effect of tenderness, ill placed, and a real concern, 
imprudently expressed. In general, those visits should 
not be permitted, I every day experience the ill effects 
of them. When, indefed, a patient is upon the recovery, 
and capable of sitting up three or four hours at a time, 
the company of a friend, who knows how far to engage 
with propriety in conversation, is a sweetly refreshing so- 
lace ; but locks, bolts, or bars cannot be too strong to 
keep prating gossips, at all times, out of a sick cham« 
ber.* 

During a fever, it is a load sufficient for any patient 
to bear the disease. Quietude on his part, and silence 
on the part of those about him, ought universally to be 
imposed. It is not a time for the mind to be engaged 
either in the pursuit of business or pleasure. 

This leads me to a consideration of the utmost im- 
portance ; and as I am not speaking as a physician, but 

'-^ See Note 52. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 169 

as a friend, it comes properly within that province, and 
I hope it will be seriously attended to by every reader. 
If it is now prejudicial for any one to think, even of the 
common concerns of life, how much more injurious 
must it prove, to have the mind engaged in that great 
work of settling, forever, our worldly affairs ! 

Would you, my rational friends, wish to be freed from 
an intolerable burden, never postpone this important 
business until you are upon a bed of sickness. Not to 
say how incapable the judgment at such a time will often 
prove, perhaps to the detriment of some deserving friend, 
or not unlikely to the confusion of a whole family, the 
very mention of it from any about us, or the conscious 
necessity in ourselves, must exceedingly hurry and de- 
press the spirits, when tranquillity and support are essen- 
tially necessary : for what can such an idea convey, but 
death ? — A last will and testament is one of the most 
solemn acts of hfe, and ought never to be postponed till 
the agonizing moments of death.*" 

The chamber, proper for a patient, is of no small mo- 
ment. There ought to be a free circulation of air, whe- 
ther it be in the summer or winter. I never would have 
any person confined to a room without a chimney ; it is 
equally necessary in the warmer season for the purpose 
of discharging the offensive vapors of disease, as it is in 
cold weather, by means of a little fire, to bring the air 
to a due temperature, which also contributes to remove 
the like offence. 



* See Note 53, 
15 



no LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES, 



To you, my female friends, this concern of nursing 
belongs. It is an important, and oftentimes a fatiguing 
task. I would willingly engage you in it upon principle, 
and, therefore, shall endeavor to show that man and wo- 
man were born for each other's support and comfort. 
Their respective dependence upon each other is, un- 
doubtedly, the wise ordination of Omniscience. 

I cannot speak of this mutual obligation, without be- 
ing mindful of the beautiful passage in our immortal 
Milton's Paradise Lost, book the fourth, where Eve 
gives Adam an account of herself ; and I shall intro- 
duce the description at length, as a quotation from this 
author can never be deemed impertinent. Let us at- 
tend to the mother of mankind ! — 



To whom thus Eve reply'd. " O thou ! for whom 
And from whom I was form'd ; flesh of thy flesh ; 
And without whom am to no end ; my guide 
And head ! what thou hast said, is just and right. 
For we to him indeed all praises owe, 
And daily thanks ; I chiefly, who enjoy 
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee 
Pre-eminent by so much odds ; while thou 
Like consort to thyself canst no where find. 
That day I oft remember, when from sleep 
I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd 
Uader a shade, on flowers ; much wond'ring where 
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. 
Not distant far from thence, a murmuring sound 
Of waters issued from a cave, and spread 
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved. 
Pure as th' expanse of heaven : I thither went, 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 171 

With inexperienc'd thought, and laid me down 

On the green bank, to look into the clear 

Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky. 

As I bent down to look, just opposite 

A shape within the wat'ry gleam appear'd, 

Bending to look on me ; I started back. 

It started back ; but pleas 'd, I soon return 'd ; 

Pleas'd it return 'd as soon, with answering looks 

Of sympathy, and love : there I had fix'd 

Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire, 

Had not a voice thus warn'd me, " What thou seest. 

What there thou seest, fair creature, is thyself ; 

With thee it came and goes : but, follow me, 

And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 

Thy coming, and thy soft embraces : he 

Whose image thou art : him thou shalt enjoy 

Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear 

Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd 

Mother of human race." What could I do, 

But follow straight, invisibly thus led. 

Till I espy'd thee f fair indeed, and tall, 

Under a plantan ; yet, methought, less fair, 

Less winning soft, less amiably mild. 

Than that smooth watry image : back I turn'd ; 

Thou following cry'dst aloud, Return, fair Eve ; 

Whom fly'st thouf whom thou fly'st, of him thou art. 

His flesh, his bone ; to give thee being, I lent 

Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, 

Substantial life, to have thee by my side 

Henceforth an individual solace dear : 

Part of my soul, I seek the3 ; and thee claim, 

My other half I — With that, thy gentle hand 

Seiz'd mine ; I yielded ; and from that time see 

How beauty is excell'd by manly grace 

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair," 



172 LETTERS'TO MARRIED LADIES. 

To illustrate my argument of our mutual dependence. 
I must beg leave to indulge myself, and hope likewise to 
entertain my reader, with another quotation from the 
same author. Adam, desirous of retaining the angel 
Raphael, relates to him what he remembers, since his 
own creation, and among other things, that which is to 
our purpose, his first meeting and nuptials with Eve. 
After recounting his dream, wherein he was informed 
of her creation, he proceeds : — 



" I wak'd 
To find her, or forever to deplore 
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure. 
When out of hope, behold her ! not far olF ; 
Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn 'd 
With what all earth or heav'n could bestow 
To make her amiable ; on she came, 
Led by her heav'nly Maker (though unseen,) 
And guided by his voice ; nor uninform'd 
Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites : 
Grace was in all her steps, heav'n in her eye, 
In every gesture, dignity and love I 
I over-joy 'd, could not forbear aloud. — 

This turn hath made amends ! Thou hast fulfilPd 
Thy words. Creator bounteous, and benign ! 
Giver of all things fair ! but fairest this 
Of all thy gifts I nor enviest. I now see 
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself 
Before me ; woman is her name ; of man 
Extracted : for this cause he shall forego 
Father and mother, and to his wife adhere ; 
And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul. 

She heard me thus ; and though divinely brought. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 173 

Yet innocence, and virgin modesty, 
Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, 
That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won ; 
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd, 
The more desirable : or, to say all, 
Nature herself (though pure of sinful thought) 
Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she tum'd ; 
I follow 'd her ; she what was honor knew, 
And, with obsequious majesty, approved 
My pleaded reason. — To the nuptial bow'r 
I led her, blushing like the mom : all heav'n, 
And happy constellation^ on that hour 
Shed their selectest influence : the earth 
Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill : 
Joyous the birds ; fresh gales, and gentle airs, 
Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings 
Flung rose, flung odors from the spicy shrubs. 
Disporting ! till the amorous bird of night 
Sung spousal, and bid haste the ev'ning star 
On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. 

Thus I have told thee all my state, and brought 
My story to the sum of earthly bliss. 
Which I enjoy : and must confess to find 
In all things else delight indeed ; but such 
As, us'd or not, works in the mind no change, 
Nor vehement desire ; these delicacies 
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowVs, 
Walks, and the melody of birds : but here 
Far otherwise ! transported I behold. 
Transported touch : here passion first I felt. 
Commotion strange ! in all enjoyments else 
Superior and unmov'd : here only weak, 
Against the charm of beauty's powerful glancci 
Or nature fail'd in me, and left some part 
Not proof enough such object to sustain ; 

15* 



174 LETTERS TO 3IARRIED LADIES. 

Or from my side subducting, took perhaps 
More than enough : at least, on her bestow'd 
Too much of ornament : in outward show, 
Elaborate ; of inward, less exact. 
For well I understand, in the prime end 
Of Nature, her th' inferior ; in the mind, 
And inward faculties; which most excel : 
In outward also her resembling less 
His image who made both; and less expressing 
The character of that dominion given 
O'er other creatures. Yet, when I approach 
Her lovelmess, so absolute she seems. 
And in herself complete, so well to know 
Her own ; that what she wills to do, or say. 
Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best : 
All higher knowledge in her presence falls 
Degraded y Wisdom, in discourse with her. 
Loses discountenanc'd, and like folly shows : 
Authority and Reason on her wait. 
As one intended first, not after made 
Occasionally i and (to consummate all) 
Greatness of mind, and nobleness, their seat 
Build in her loveliest, and create an awe 
About her, as a guard angelic plac'd." 

How exquisitely charming are these descriptions ! 
what valuable portraits of the first human pair ! The 
lines elegantly strong ! the colourings beautifuUy rich ! 
Then again the amazingly soft and delicate touches of 
this great master of the human feelings, wherever we 
cast our eyes, enchantingly appear ! 

What can more fully show our mutual dependence ! — 
So amiably engaging to each other, our first parents, in 
this poem, are described, that the labor of either. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 173 

whereby the other was benefitted, must prove a real 
pleasure. What an example for the encouragement of 
matrimony I O that we could more generally display 
the character of Adam ! Then you, my fair ones, 
would strive more ardently, in gentleness and love, to 
imitate this first of women. 

If man would endeavor to curb unlawful inclinations, 
cherishing and comforting the wife of his bosom ; if he 
would fondly regard her charms and virtues ; what emu- 
lation must such a conduct excite in every female breast, 
to give honor and dignity to her husband ! Let men 
but begin the reformation, and I will be accountable for 
the right behaviour of the generality of your sex. 

Nevertheless, the culpableness of man will not excuse 
the folly of woman ; and this piece of advice, from a 
real fi-iend, the ladies will do well to observe. 

I know my fair pupils will tell me, that although a 
husband may have follies and vices, yet, if he is but a 
sensible man, they can overlook them, and cheerfiilly 
submit to their lord and master — but who, say they, 
can be governed by a fool ? 

When once a woman has drawn her lot, it is not only 
her duty, but the height of policy, to make the best of 
it. Let her choice prove ever so disagreeable, or sup- 
posing that she was led into such a marriage by the cruel 
compulsion of her friends, still honor and obedience are 
required on her part. By giving importance to a hus- 
band, (even those husbands we are now speaking of, for 
others will command it,) a wife merits, and generally 



176 LETTERS TO ]\IARIIIED LADIES. 

obtains, praise and adoration, not only from him, but 
from the whole world. 

On the contrary, the mistaken wife, who in company 
degrades, and upon every occasion tauntingly reproaches 
her husband, thus making him, poor man, the con- 
temptible butt to level her triumphant shafts at ; not- 
withstanding she imagines her own wit and superior 
talents are happily displayed, to the entertainment and 
admiration of her friends ; beheve me, ladies, by those 
very friends she must ever be condemned ; and let her 
merits, in other respects, be ever so great, this culpable 
part of her behaviour they must assuredly despise. 

But to return from our present wandering, which I 
intentionally followed as an encouragement to virtue, 
a consistency of character, and mutual love ; being con- 
vinced that these qualifications will make even a con- 
stant attendance in a sick chamber not altogether un- 
pleasing. Now then let us pursue our farther care, 
where female tenderness can assuage the severest bo- 
dily pains, and render the greatest misfortunes of life at 
least supportable. 

In every disorder, physic and good nursing ought to 
go hand in hand : and I am the more desirous of giving 
my opinion with respect to good nursing, as I mean to 
oppose it to poor and bad nursing, which has been too 
much the unlucky and mistaken practice of the sick 
chamber: for under the vague idea of inflammation, 
and inflammatory diseases, even bread and water have 
been sometimes accounted too great a support for the 
patient. But with pleasure, we now see physicians act 



LETTERS TO HARRIED LADIES. 177 

upon more rational principles ; and would wish to con- 
vince you, ladies, whose province it is, of the propriety 
of supporting patients under every disease.* 

The sick chamber is our subject ; but it is also to be 
understood, that the precautions here laid down will 
prove equally necessary, where invalids are permitted to 
attend to the common affairs of life ; for, without a pru- 
dent regulation in our method of living, few constitu- 
tional or long existing ails can be removed, or even 
rendered in any degree light, and easily to be borne ; 
but I am clearly convinced, that it is very possible for 
many infirm persons to pass comfortably through a to- 
lerable length of life, and, at last, to pay an easy debt 
to nature. 

The observations, therefore, upon children and aged 
persons, are equally applicable to those w^ho, by ungo- 
verned passions and intemperance, have ruined their 
health ; for in either of these cases, where the bodily 
powers are enervated, and the digestion weakened, a 
proper, light, and nourishing diet is as necessary to re- 
store health, as it is to support the young, and preserve 
the aged. 

Every disease is to be considered as a deviation from 
health ; and a fever is the means made use of by nature 
to fi-ee the body from something that is noxious. Ought 
we, therefore, to counteract her in this her own great 
work ? Ought we not rather cautiously and prudently, 
like a valuable handmaid, to tend upon her movements, 

* See Note 54. 



178 JLETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

and generously support her in the design she aims at ? 
Surely this appears to every one reasonable. 

However, where there is a fever, or great weakness 
of the body, or where the body itself is emaciated, an 
alteration from the common manner of living is cer- 
tainly necessary. To these points, therefore, I shall 
confine my advice, as other considerations come under 
a medical direction. 

Few persons are constrained to keep their chambers, 
who are not troubled with great loss of strength, or 
feverish complaints ; either as the first cause, or as symp- 
toms accompanying other diseases. Supposing then 
these circumstances, the constitution being thus re- 
duced, or nature laboring to throw off a disease, the 
body certainly requires a nourishment of the most sim- 
ple kind ; by simple, I mean easy of digestion, but let 
it at the same time be comfortable. The stomach and 
bowels must, of necessity, be equally affected with the 
other parts of the body, and consequently unable to 
perform their offices upon the common supports of 
life. 

Animal food, therefore, is particularly to be forbid- 
den : and I am sorry to be obliged to blame the fond- 
ness of parents, and those who assist in sick chambers, 
for too frequently indulging patients thus unwarrantably. 
Give me leave to observe, if flesh be permitted during 
the existence of a fever, or when the body, by illness, 
is exceedingly weakened and emaciated, from the inca- 
pacity of the digestive faculties, the nourishment pro- 
duced must be imperfect, crude, offensive ; and conse- 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 179 

quently, instead of a support, must add an additional 
weight to the disease. 

But, at the same time, let it be remembered, that, as 
a support is necessary, good broths, wine whey, jellies, 
panado, a beverage of wine and water, &c. are to be 
discretion ally permitted ; and, indeed, the inclination of 
the sick person will generally determine the propriety of 
these things ; for where they are hurtful, an universal 
loathing of them commonly takes place. 

These and such like sippings, being easy of digestion, 
are not only the most proper for a diseased state of the 
stomach and bowels, but they also supply the body with 
a necessary nourishment to uphold its strength under 
the disorder. It is a point at present acknowledged by 
all good physicians. It is, in my opinion, a circum- 
stance minutely to be dwelt upon ; for wofiil experience 
has often convinced me, that the rashness of an obsti- 
nate nurse, in one unlucky hour, has counteracted the 
operations of a well regulated, and otherwise success- 
ful, regimen. 

Although I would debar patients from animal food, 
where there is a feverish complaint, nevertheless I do 
most earnestly recommend a generous, but discretionary, 
support of easily digested and comfortable liquid nou- 
rishment, in every fever. I mean, that barley water, 
mint and balm tea, with such like drinks, will not suffi- 
ciently support the strength of a patient under any kind 
of fever, even for a few days, and much less for as many 
weeks. As to the distinctions of inflammatory, nervous, 
and putrid, it is not my business to enter upon them 



180 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

here ; but supposing the fever to be inflammatory, the 
patient is, or ought to be, confined to bed, and a breath- 
ing sweat encouraged. Will not then an already almost 
digested and innocent liquid nourishment answer the 
physician's aim, at the same time that it supports the 
patient ? Experience has convinced me of its utility. 
I cannot help, therefore, strongly recommending it ; for 
I am too apprehensive that many lives are daily lost for 
want of this necessary support. 

I am laboring to prevent that mistaken care, which is 
commonly called starving a disease, and to set aside the 
dreadful apprehension that a little innocent nourishment 
given to a person in a fever, is still adding fuel to the fire. 
By these errors the ablest assistance is oftentimes baffled, 
to the cost of the patient, and, not unlikely, to the dis- 
grace of a worthy practitioner. Be assured, that it is 
more eligible to endeavor to support, and build up again, 
a shaken, diseased, and tottering frame, than to attempt 
to pull it down. Never let this be done but by the ex- 
press command of wisdom and experience ; for it is a 
serious affair at all times to deprive a tenement of its 
foundation and strength. It is much to be wished, as 
it surely must prove a general advantage, that physicians 
would more particularly direct the regimen of diet in 
sick chambers. 

The punctuality of nurses, and those who attend upon 
the sick, in the administering of medicines, is of no 
small import. It is a cruel reflection upon the honest 
part of the profession, that practitioners consult the num- 
ber of their fees, or the length of their bills, more than 



LETTERS TO MAKKIED LADIES. IBl 



the health of their patients. Such iniquity is but very 
seldom, I hope, if ever, practised ; and such aspersions 
are never cast upon the character of physicians, but by 
ungenerous, ungrateful, and sordid minds. And as few 
persons employ any but those of whom they entertain a 
good opinion, let me warn you, as a friend, not to in- 
dulge a suspicion which betrays a mean soul, and most 
probably wiU, at some time or other, produce fatal con- 
sequences to yourselves. Great relief, nay, oftentimes, 
perfect health, is assuretfy to be obtained by the help of 
medicine. Great evil, nay, too frequently, certain 
death, ensues from a jealous contempt, or wanton ne- 
glect of this salutary aid. 

I must speak of another mistake, with regard to the 
management of linen. A patient cannot be hurt by 
changmg wet, filthy, and offensive linen, for that which 
IS dry, clean, and comfortable ; provided this be done 
with proper care, not to give cold during the time of 
shiftmg the clothes. Linen which is perfectly dry and 
clean, is, at all times, to be preferred to that which has 
been used ; for the latter may have absorbed offensive 
vapors, of which the former must be entirely free. 
Against this observation, I am convinced there are great 
prejudices ; nevertheless ^ose who employ their reason 
but for a moment will see the propriety of the present 
caution.* 

A free circulation of air is essentially necessary not 
only to carry off the offensive vapors of disease, but also 

See Note 55. 
16 



182^ LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

to the recovery of the patient ; nay, even to the pre- 
servation of those who attend upon the sick. It is true, 
that a fire is proper in cold weather, for reasons before 
given ; but at the same time the chamber ought to be no 
more than comfortably warm ; for where this degree of 
heat is exceeded, faint sweats are likely to exhaust the 
patient's strength, whereby he sinks, perhaps, under a 
disease, through which, probably, he might otherwise 
have been supported. 

Having now cautioned you against the most material 
errors, which at present recur to my memory, I will 
beg leave to observe what poor creatures men in gene- 
ral are, when necessity confines them to a sick chamber ! 
If we reflect upon this scene, ought we to complain of 
the spirits of women ? 1 scarcely ever find a man, in 
sickness, support himself so well as a woman does. 
Men are, for the most part, depressed in their spirits, to 
the greatest degree, when they are ill. Be it then with 
gratitude remembered, that in a sick chamber, the 
pleasing vivacity, and, let me add, the true philosophy, 
of a kind female friend, prove essentially necessary. A 
good nurse will, in a great measure, alleviate our bodily 
infirmities, by supporting our spirits in time of sick- 
ness, e 

A man, by striking and superior abilities, industry, 
and good fortune, is sometimes lucky enough to raise 
himself, aggrandize his family, and bring to his wife 
conveniences far beyond her expectations. But what 
are all these things, compared to the comfort, and ten- 
der support, which she in return can largely bestow 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 183 

upon him ; at a time, too, when the infirmities of nature 
will not suffer such an exalted favorite of fortune to 
relish any one enjoyment of life ? Ask this very hus- 
band when he is stretched on the bed of sickness, and 
rendered helpless by disease ; — ^let us fancy him, too, 
almost expiring under excruciating agonies — and now 
put the question to him, — Which is more eligible, for- 
tune or health ? He will assuredly answer, that one mo- 
ment's ease is more desirable than all the splendid ad- 
vantages he may have obtained. 

In like manner, the truly affectionate and sympa- 
thising concern, the delicate deportment, and careful 
attendance of a good wife, in these scenes of painful 
sufferance, more than overbalance every thing that is 
in the power of the most successful husband to bestow 
upon her ; and it is a truth which truly generous minds 
will every gratefully acknowledge. 

A man under these circumstances, with some regard 
to his accustomed manner of living, and the particular 
disease, is to be considered as a child; and conse- 
quently ought to be submitted to female management. 
Your care, therefore, will of course direct you to seek 
the assistance of able and experienced physicians. May 
their skill conquer the disease, while you generously 
support his strength and spirits ; and thereby greatly 
contribute to restore again the invalid to a healthy and 
vigorous constitution ! 



LETTER XV. 



OF 



OLD AGE 



16* 



LETTER XV. 

Old Age — hy virtue rendered truly honorable. The steps by which 
ive mounted into life^ shown to be the easiest and best paths to de- 
scend into the grave. 

Spring, summer, and autumn, have their various and 
engaging charms ; and there is something pecuHarly 
pleasing in each transition ; but stern winter can boast 
of nothing besides the fruits of the preceding seasons. 

The Hfe of man is often, with propriety, compared to 
the progressive year ; and the only happiness that can 
be expected in old age, must arise from the reflections 
of a well spent life ; at which time, being likewise the 
winter of our days, every person may generally reap the 
fruits of a past virtuous conduct : — for although the be- 
numbed limbs deny the body their usual support, and 
the hoary head trembles on its withered shoulders, 
there are valuable comforts yet in vStore for those, who, 
like the industrious ant, have been wise enough to trea- 
sure them at the proper season. 

Such a good man or woman, one would hope, has 
wherewithal to procure the indulgences their years re- 
quire, and a sufiiciency to requite the attendance of a 
faithful servant. Join to these a farther blessing, that, 
perchance kind heaven has bestowed, a dutiful and good 
daughter to support their infirmities, and, by her affec- 
tionate tenderness fully to repay them for the pains of 



188 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

her education, and that parental anxiety, which must 
necessarily have been sustained during her youth. Here, 
I say, the wisdom and tender indulgence of a kind pa- 
rent is amply rewarded, by the fostering care of a truly 
virtuous and affectionate child. These are inestimable 
comforts ; and such is the easy decline that Providence 
intended to old age — thus to close life with a not unhap- 
py period. 

Let us, my amiable friends, picture a worthy and 
aged man in his second infant state. Let us with com- 
posure attend him to the gates of death, there to dehver 
him up into the bosom of his Creator ! Let us indulge 
a rational sorrow, but at the same time support that 
calmness and serenity which denote a religiously inform- 
ed mind. Let us consider this as a debt we must assu- 
redly pay, and that it puts an everlasting period to the 
calamities of this life ! Whence may be drawn this com- 
fortable conclusion ; that, if to the uttermost of our 
power we have contributed to the great end for which 
we were created, our future state of existence must be 
happier than the present. 

Come then, let us approach the chamber of deatl) 1 
Let us advance to the bed of this good parent, and be- 
hold his calm and resigned countenance ! Although we 
shall find it a solemn scene, yet there is nothing so ter- 
rible in this sight, as the world generally imagine. But 
draw the contrary character, that of a wicked man in 
his last moments ; and it must be shocking indeed. 

As ripened and mellow fruit drops, untouched, from 
the tree to its mother earth ; so the good old man falls 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 189 

peaceably into the grave, and mingles again with the 
common dust from which he originally sprang. 



-" The blood 



It loiters still ; and now it stirs no more. 
This is the period few attain ; the death 
Of nature ; thus (so heaven ordained it) life 
Destroys itself, and could these laws have chang'd, 
Nestor might now the fate of Troy relate, 
And Homer live immortal as his song." 

It is the vicious alone that have reason to be terrified 
at the thoughts of death ; but we are describing the up- 
right man, not unhkely taking a last and affectionate 
farewell of his lovely and dutiful daughters; exhorting 
them to the practice of virtue, and recounting the re- 
wards attendant upon it. The eldest, perhaps, in her 
willing arms supports the expiring sire, while the young- 
est administers some refreshing cordial to detain, for a 
moment, the fleeting spirit. Meanwhile the tranquil 
parent, peradventure, gently rebukes the falling tear, 
prophetically foretelling that their last moments shall be 
peaceable like his — and blesses them with his dying lips. 

For such characters, delineated more at large, and 
which are worthy of our admiration and reverence, I 
must refer my gentle readers, for the female one, to that 
great mastej of human feelings, Mr. Richardson, in his 
history of sir Charles Grandison. How beautifully is 
honorable age exemplified in the character of Mrs, Shir- 
ley ! The account there given of the latter part of her 
life will assuredly dehght and instruct every one. The 
death of lady Grandison, how inexpressibly interesting ! 



190 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES, 



Although her temples were covered with untimely snow, 
yet, in ^le character of wife, parent, and christian, her 
exalted virtue has shone unrivalled ; and when the aw- 
ful period approached, behold her departure, like the 
setting sun, — leaving husband, children, and a world of 
friends, to mourn the eternal absence of her cheering 
rays I 

The whole work contains a noble system of morality, 
and is highly to be recommended to all young persons. 
These useful lessons will be still more instructive, when 
read in the company of those who are capable of ma- 
king proper remarks. This being premised, virtuous 
emulation will ever be most excited in young minds 
from the characters which appear real^because example 
always proves stronger than precept. Thus entertain- 
ment and improvement will go hand in hand. 

For the other character, I mean that of the good old 
man, no one has excelled the ingenious and learned Dr. 
Armstrong, in his Essay upon Health. The whole 
poem, indeed, is written in a masterly style, and con- 
veys many useful instructions, truly worthy of perusal ; 
but his description of honorable age, is inimitable ; and 
although very concise, nevertheless it contains a volume 
of panegyric. I shall beg that gentleman's leave to 
transcribe it. — 

How to live happiest ; how avoid the pains, 
The disappointments, and disgusts of those 
Who would in pleasure all their hours employ, 
The precepts here of a divine old man 
I could recite. Though old, he still retain'd 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 191 

His manly sense, and energy of mind. 
Virtuous and wise he was, but not severe ; 
He still remember'd that he once was young ; 
His easy presence check'd no decent joy. 
Him ev'n the dissolute admired ; for he 
A graceful looseness when he pleas'd put on, 
And laughing could instruct. Much had he read, 
Much more had seen ; he studied from the life, 
And in th' original perus'd mankind. 

Such characters render old age desirable, lovely, and 
truly honorable. The odium of peevish and morose 
vanishes, while our reverence and admiration stand alone 
engaged. Who would not wish to be that old man, 
whose calm tranquillity far surpasses the transient and 
passionate enjoyments of youth ? Happy children, blest 
with such happy parents ! 

From this description, I hope to interest the tender 
passions of my fair readers, so as to make them cheer- 
fully contribute to the comforts of their aged parents, 
while they yet live. A dutiful daughter must ever make 
a good wife and tender mother ; and to a prudent dis- 
cerning man, it is certainly one of the greatest recom> 
mendations in the choice of a companion for life. 

On the other hand, a cruel and undutiful child is the 
most odious and unnatural monster upon earth ; inso- 
much that the Chinese are said to punish such crimes 
with the greatest severity. It is recorded in their histo- 
ry, that if a son should be known to kill, or so much as 
strike his father, not only the criminal, but his whole fa- 
mily would be rooted out, their dwelling razed to the 
ground, and its foundation sown with salt; nay, Le 



192 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



Compte adds, that the inhabitants of the place where he 
lived, would be put to the sword ; as they conclude 
there must have been a total depravation of manners in 
that clan, or society of people, who could have bred up 
among them so horrid an offender. 

How beautifully has our inimitable Shakspeare drawn 
the two contrasted characters, in his description of Lear 
and his three daughters ; where the two elder appear 
like Satan's evil angels, while Cordelia, the poor Cor- 
delia, is an exalted example of filial tenderness and 
affection ! 

To your peculiar province, is this last great duty con- 
signed : to instruct you, therefore, in the proper execu- 
cution of it, a few useful observations may not be unsea- 
sonably introduced. 

In a former letter, we likened infancy to a tender 
plant ; where we taught the best method of rearing it. 
so as to make it flourish in the garden of the world. 
The summer having produced you the fair fruit of this 
goodly tree ; and the autumn of your parent stock having 
ripened your understanding ; it is but meet that such 
knowledge should direct you, at this frozen season, to 
cherish the decaying root from whence you sprang. 

We have taken notice of the helpless state of child- 
hood, before the body has acquired strength sufficient 
to prepare its own nourishment ; we have shown the 
time when instinct and reason direct us to provide for 
ourselves ; and particularly observed, that animal food 
was never designed for our use, until we had teeth given 
ns to eat it. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 19o 

Let US continue these speculations, and regard the 
natural growth of our bodies, together with the increa- 
sing strength of our constitutions. Behold the child, 
whom you lately fondled in your arms, now contending 
with his play-fellows in boyish sports : again, observe 
liim who lately returned from school with his satchel in 
his hand, now panting foremost in the chase : and now 
see manhood stamped upon the downy cheek. Let us 
likewise remember the equally gradual declension. At 
length the sturdy son supports his feeble sire ; for he 
who, in his youth, was swiftest in the race, is now 
scarcely able to uphold his tottering limbs. The man of 
war, whose sturdy arm wielded the blood-thirsting sword 
of battle, is now bending under the weight of his own 
body. Behold, his sinews are dried up, and the purple 
current that bounded in his veins, now heavily and 
scarcely creeps along. In every part ahke, the powers 
of this wonderful machine decay. The teeth, designed 
both for use and ornament, robbed of their beautiful 
enamel, become unsightly, and drop out of the sockets ; 
the penetrating eye, that searched into the very abyss of 
thought, is altogether useless, or but dimly discerns the 
rays of light. Manly fortitude is now no more ; and 
wisdom itself retires from the decayed mansion. Such 
IS the almost universal condition of old age, properly 
called our second childhood ; and plain are the infe- 
rences to be drawn from hence. 

If a light and easily digested nourishment was neces- 
sary before our bodies had obtained their proper strength, 

r^urely a similar method of living is the most proper when 

17 



194 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

they have lost it ; and therefore — the steps by which 
we mounted into life, are the easiest and best paths to 
descend into the grave. 

The digestive powers of age are equally enfeebled 
with the members of the body ; and, undoubtedly, the 
same reason that forbade the use of flesh, before we had 
teeth, points out the necessity of gradually declining it 
as they decay. There are, indeed, some few persons 
toothless, who are not far advanced in life ; but such 
constitutions are generally feeble, and therefore the pre- 
cautions are not unapplicable to them. 

These arguments being rightly understood, there will 
be little occasion to enlarge upon this subject ; as the 
directions for the management of children, from the 
time of weaning them, until they may be entrusted to 
the care of themselves, comprehend every necessary in- 
struction for the regimen of old age ; and those persons 
act wisely who consider it as a second childhood. 

I need not be more particular on this head, as few, I 
am persuaded, will suppose this period to commence 
with themselves, before it is necessary for them to con- 
form to these rules. 

Age, undoubtedly, requires indulgence ; but at the 
same time, indolence creeps on it imperceptibly. Those 
persons suffer least from pain, who rouse themselves to 
a state of activity ; and there are exercises well adapted 
even to advanced life : an additional warmth of cover- 
ing is at this time necessary ; yet those act most pru- 
dently who do not accustom themselves to very warm 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 19; 



clothes, and very warm rooms, while they are capable of 
enduring the variations of their natural climate. 

Nevertheless, one remark must not escape our obser- 
vation ; I mean, the happy effect of temperance through 
hfe : it not only prevents disease as we are upon our 
journey, but enables us to receive the intended benefit, 
and cordial support, of wine, and other comfortable sip- 
pings, in this time of need. Nature, in a temperate 
person, obtains fresh vigor and spirits from such exhila- 
rating juices ; but where the constitution has been ac- 
customed to excess, no advantage, in the decline of life, 
can be derived from their use. 

I have now fulfilled my present design ; and through 
every letter have aimed at conveying my observations in 
a rational and amusing manner ; calculated, I hope, to 
please, at the same time that I wish to instruct. It is a 
topic, which, in different parts of it, has been handled 
by very able men ; and yet has generally, I believe, 
been esteemed a dry subject, particularly by the ladies, 
to whom it essentially belongs. This dislike seems, 
probably, to have arisen from the style not being suffi- 
ciently void of terms of art ; for the taste, as well as 
the judgment, must be pleased, when we mean to en- 
counter prejudices, and to correct long estabhshed 
errors. 

It will give me a particular satisfaction, if I have so 
far succeeded in my undertaking, as that the present 
collection of letters may deserve a place in the ladies 
library ; and perhaps this little volume may sometimes 



196 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



prove the companion of the nursery and sick chamber, 
or even afford an hour's amusement in a carriage. 

It is intended, my fair, to render your characters truly 
amiable ; and I trust will be received as a present from 
a sincere friend to the sex. Where tenderness, good- 
nature, sense, and virtue, are beautifully blended in a 
female form, our admiration and love are equally enga- 
ged ; and where this proves to be the case, every man 
is, surely, desirous of contributing to the service of per« 
factions so irresistibly engaging — such, at least, is the 
resolution of 

Ladies, 

Your devoted, 
Humble servant, 

HUGH SMITH. 



ADDITIONAL LETTER 



ON 



CORSETS 



17 



/ 



ADDITIONAL LETTER 

ON 

CORSETS, 

BY THE 

AMERICAN EDITOR. 

Right glad should I be, if ladies, at the present pe- 
riod, deserved the high commendation paid them by 
Dr. Smith in his third letter ; but I feel it my duty, as a 
friend to humanity, as an admirer of the female sex, and 
especially as one of the acknowledged guardians of the 
public health, to say, that Corsets, with all their para- 
phernalia, are as great a curse in our day, as were stays* 
in the last century. I would condemn Corsets, either 
with, or without busks : they are a slow and a fashiona- 
ble poison, which has laid many a lovely form, at an un- 
timely hour, prostrate with the listless dead. Parents 
have been prematurely robbed of their fondest hopes ^ 



■^' Corsets is onjy another name for stays, the terms are synony- 
mous; the construction of the former, as nov/ worn by our ladies 
of fashion, is in a]most every v/hit similar to the slays of our 
:xrand-motheri?. 



200 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

and husbands of their choicest jewels, through their 
pernicious effects. What avails all the care, anxiety, and 
tender watchfulness of parental fondness during the 
years of infancy and childhood ? Why all their solici- 
tude to protect from pestilence that walketh in darkness, 
and the arrow that flieth by noon-day ? Why so much 
toil, expense, and self-denial, to avert impending evils, 
by guarding the system against those hideous and loath- 
some diseases, which, left to themselves, would, per- 
haps, speedily place it beyond the reach of farther mis- 
fortune ? Why all this, I ask ? If a foe more daring and 
more deadly, is to be cherished, and invited to take pos- 
session. If an enemy more cruel, and more powerful 
is to stand in readiness, to snatch away the precious 
pearl. 

But strange, unaccountable, infatuation ! Corsets are 
established in fashion, and the mother and the daughter 
alike, are strenuous advocates for their use. Because 
they are fashionable^ you wear them — utterly regardless 
of the consequences — notwithstanding the mournful les- 
son perpetually passing before your eyes — wilfully im- 
molating, to this depraved, deluded, phantom of a god, 
that life which the great Giver of life, gave to you to 
preserve, until, by his own mandate, he shall call upon 
vou to render it un. 



-^^ It is not thine. 

Bat only in thy keeping for a season.*' 

Should I call the practice of wearing Corsets a crime, 
you may be apt to start with surprise ; but, nevertheless, 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 201 

I do consider it a crime, and a cruel and a black one 
too ; — and if your indignation begins to burn, because I 
call it a crime, it may possibly burst into a flame, when 
you find me classing the crime with that of self-murder ; 
— at all events, you may judge me unnecessarily severe, 
and harsh, in the use of terms. If my language is se- 
vere, and harsh, and I am ready to allow that it is not 
as mild and soothing as you are wont to hear, for the 
subject does not admit of it ; still I am thinking an im- 
partial judge would determine, that it is not far from the 
truth. At all events, retain your patience for a moment 
or two, until we look a little into the state of the case. 
The experienced lawyer knows, that to address the^eZ- 
ings of the court, is a speedy way to gain his cause ; but 
the moralist finds, that unless the judgment be address- 
ed, and convinced, the effect of his harrangue is but 
little more durable than the early cloud, and the morn- 
ing dew. To your understandings then, carefully fi*eed 
from all bias, (if that be possible,) let me address my- 
self. 

You do not hesitate to pronounce that individual a 
self-murderer, who, by obstinate and habitual intempe- 
rance, finds for himself a dweUing with the dead, before 
he had lived out half his days. And why associate the 
idea of suicide, with that of the habitual drunkard, if 
intemperance is not a wilful, obstinate, deliberate, al- 
though sometimes, it is true, a protracted destruction of 
life, an uncalled for termination of existence. 

Now, in eff^ect^ I ask, where is the mighty difference 
between this disgusting, this brutal vice, and the prac- 



20£ LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

tice of wearing Corsets ? Tf I am not very greatly mis- 
taken, the principal difference will be found to be but a 
shadow, and hardly that. In effect, then, what is it ? 
I grant you, that in appearance, in outward show, there 
is a difference, because, with habitual intemperance we 
are accustomed to associate a long train of disgusting, 
revolting ideas ; for when we think of a drunkard, it 
seems almost impossible, at the same time, to avoid 
thinking of sloth, idleness, brutality, squalid poverty, 
and rags, to whose assistance death appears to come as 
a very kind messenger, to prevent his any longer bear- 
ing about with him here below, his accumulated weight 
of suffering, shame and infamy. Not so, I grant, with 
the more fashionable mode of destroying life. Fashion, 
that fickle goddess, so devotedly worshipped by the gay, 
the wealthy, and the proud, has passed a decree in fa- 
vor of Corsets, but avowedly opposed to intemperance ; 
consequently, among her subjects, the one is held in 
high and prominent estimation, and the other in disre- 
pute. Waving, then, as a matter of httle moment, this 
trifling difference, — trifling in comparison with the co- 
incidence of their effects — let us see, if, upon a closer 
examination, the difference will appear to be so great : 
you may find the parallel between them much nearer 
than what you have accustomed yourselves to imagine. 

1 . They both lay the system under a heavy contribu- 
tion of unnecessary irritation. 

2. They both disorder the digestive organs, by ren- 
dering the gastric juice unfit for, and unable properly to 
perform the essential process of digestion. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 203 



3. They both effectually, though by slow, and at first 
almost imperceptible degrees, steal away the appetite. 

4. They both interrupt the functions of that very ne- 
cessary organ, the liver, by preventing a healthy secre- 
tion of bile, or preventing its free passage into the 
bowels ; and thereby causing inflammation and its fre- 
quent successor, the formation of matter, and the long 
train of misery and wretchedness, attending that now 
very fashionable disease — the " liver complaint." 

6. They both induce distressing affections of the 
bowels, which are sometimes found to be totally ungo- 
vernable ; not yielding to the influence of medicine, but 
rather aggravated, even by the most judicious interfe- 
rence of the healing art, till death renders useless any 
other efforts of friends or physicians. 

6. They both produce debility, and prostration of 
strength, which no tonics can remedy. 

7. They both rob the system of its necessary quanti- 
ty of nervous energy ; and hence ensue pantings, and 
tremblings, and faintings, after the least exertion. 

8. They both render the system ripe for disease of 
any kind ; so that in prevailing fevers, or sickly seasons, 
their victims are the first to sicken, and the first to die. 

9. They both so paraUze the system, that when 
disease of any kind attacks it, medicine is found not to 
produce its wonted effect, and requires to be given in 
entirely different doses from what is customary under 
other circumstances ; and therefore may be expected to 
produce other effects, than those at first intended ; and 
your physician, notwithstanding his skill may already 



204 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

have been displayed more than one hundred times be- 
fore your' eyes, becomes very unjustly, and very cruelly 
censured — at the unfairness of which ingenuousness must 
blush. 

10. The last point of resemblance between the effects 
of Corsets and of intemperance, which I shall now no- 
tice, is, that they both, at an untimely hour, lay their 
victims in the grave, and, in my humble estimation, both 
alike loaded with guilt, in the eyes of Him who seeth 
as not man seeth, — and you may calculate eternity's day- 
book to tell the same story to the universe. 

Having, as I think, sufficiently established the coin- 
cidence of the two habits, as to their effects upon the 
constitution, I may here be permitted to mention some 
of the points in which they differ ; such as, the one pro- 
duces a red face, the other a white one ; — the one a 
*• brandy breath," the other a putrid one; — the one a 
stupid, dull, and snoreing companion, the other a 
peevish, fretful, and sleepless one ; the one, for the most 
part, affecting males, the other females ; — the one bene- 
fitting distilleries, tavern-keepers and grog shops, the 
other apothecaries and physicians ; the one rendering a 
woman sick of iife,i£she must be tied to a drunken hus- 
band, the other rendering a man sick of life, if he must be 
impoverished by a wilfully distempered wife ; — the one 
under the operation of these causes, becomes addicted to 
his cups, the other to her phials ;-^the one desires a jo- 
vial companion with his glass, the other the doctor with 
his catholicon : — the one charges indisposition to any 
thing but the intoxicating draught, the other offers any 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 205 

excuse for indisposition but Corsets ; — the one resembles 
a bloated mass of staggering matter, the other a 
decorated skeleton, stalking forth with lifeless anima- 
tion ;— the one has too much latitude to move in, 
the other cannot move for the want of it ; — intem- 
perance, for the most part, retains its victim in 
durance vile, for a long time ; while the other, often- 
times, makes the term of punishment much shorter. 

But lest I might be thought to be jesting, I will carry this 
comparison no farther. It may be objected, however, 
that I have taken the very extremes of either case, and 
thereby weaken the cause I meant to strengthen. To 
this I reply, — that as long as some cases have produced 
such extremes, we are at liberty to suppose that others 
may also do it ; and that, oftentimes, it is the know- 
ledge of these extremes, which causes the abandonment 
of a course of evil. I ask the individual who begins by 
taking only a dram in the morning, what security he 
has, that he will not die a sot ? At first, his excuse may 
be plausible ; he drinks, and presently his allowance be- 
comes doubled, — and still, to himself, his excuse may be 
sufficient; but show him the probable termination of 
such indulgences, paint before him the extreme case of 
one, who, from such small beginnings, has, at length, 
been reduced to the very verge of existence, and if any 
thing will produce resolutions of amendment, it will be 
that. So of those in the habit of wearing Corsets ; they 
commence the practice, but cannot calculate upon its 
termination. They have no warrant sufficient to insure 

them against their very worst effects ; and she who puts 

18 



206 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

them OD, knows not but hers may be an extreme case, 
and that she may be the individual whom Corsets may 
destroy. It is the same with any human evil : we can 
be made sensible of its magnitude, or of its importance, 
only by looking at its extremes. View a female labor- 
ing under a consumption ; her cheeks painted with the 
hectic glow, and her complexion alabastered by extreme 
debility, reclining upon her couch, enjoying the momen- 
tary refreshment of '•'• nature's sweet restorer, — balmy 
sleep," presenting a picture of beauty seldom surpass- 
ed. A person uninformed of her disease, might easily 
imagine her in the enjoyment of perfect health ; but men- 
tion her malady, and, because he knows its usually fatal 
effects, the extremes of its danger, his heart insensibly 
rises with compassion, and perhaps his eye ghstens with 
the tear of sympathy ; so by drawing a picture of the 
extreme effects of Corsets, the truth, that they must al- 
ways produce some injurious consequences, becomes 
greatly enforced. 

If, then, there is so much resemblance between the 
effects of Corsets and those of ardent spirits, and if it 
be admitted, as it must be, on all hands, that individuals 
addicted to the latter vice, are guilty of suicide, (al- 
though the ladies may not thank me for the comparison,) 
I think I have already clearly made it appear, that those 
addicted to the former vice, are no less guilty of the 
like offence, against the laws of God, and against the 
best feelings of our nature. And the following lines of 
the immortal Blair, may be more applicable to those 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 207 



who wear these life-goads, than some may be willing at 
first to admit. 

" But if there's an hereafter, 
(And that there is, conscience, uninfluenced, 
And suffer'd to speak out, tells every man) 
Then must it be an awful thing to die ; 
More horrid yet to die by one's own hand. 
Shall nature, swerving from her earliest dictate. 
Self-preservation, fall by her own act ? 
Forbid it Heaven ! 



-Unheard of tortures": 



Must be reserved for such ; these herd together : 
The common damn'd shun their society, 
And look upon themselves as fiends less foul." 

Perhaps many a one will be ready to say, ^' I don't 
believe one word of it ; how can it be, when so many 
wear them ? I have known many persons, who, for 
years, have laced themselves a great deal tighter than I 
do, and have found no inconvenience from it. It can* 
not be, that Corsets are such dangerous things." I 
have very often heard ladies talk like this, but what 
then ? What is the weight of such arguments, in such 
a cause ? even admitting them to be true, (which I 
would have you remember, I do not,) will any one pre- 
tend, that, because a child now and then falls down a 
pair of stairs, and sustains httle or no injury, that such 
falls are attended with no danger ; — that, because one 
man can jump from a garret window and not hurt him« 
self, that therefore, another should do it expecting im- 
punity ; — that, because some persons love fat, and relish 



208 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

it every day, that therefore, fat is not offensive to any sto- 
machs ; — that, because some men can digest nails, and 
clam-shells, that therefore, all men can ; — that, be- 
cause the small pox does not kill all M^hom it attacks, 
that therefore, it is never fatal, and its effects never 
to be dreaded. You can doubtless see the fallacy of 
such reasoning ; you can see the absurdity of drawing 
such conclusions from such premises ; but if the ab- 
surdity of the one be so clear, why not the absurdity of 
the other ? are not the cases parallel ? Were it not 
for the intervention of prejudice and fashion, I believe 
you could see the absurdity of the one, as clearly as you 
can that of the other. 

I will tell you a story : A certain nobleman, who had 
been guilty of acts of injustice, which he found pro- 
fitable to himself, in the administration of some public 
business, could not be persuaded of his fault, and would 
not confess his crime. An aged and venerable bishop, 
present, took a pen and wrote on the palm of his hand 
the word "God," and holding it up to the nobleman, ask- 
ed him if he could see that word ? he said he could ; 
he then took from his pocket a guinea^ and covering 
the word with it, again asked the nobleman if he could 
see it ? he answered that he could not, to be sure ; the 
venerable prelate then asked him, why ? Now, where 
prejudice and fashion interfere, it is quite as difficult for 
any one to see their duty, as it was for this nobleman, 
when his interest intervened ; and may we not fairly 
conclude, that if it were not for the interference of these 
obstacles, you could see the absurdity of the one, as 
clearly as that of the other. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 209 

But you will remember, I said 1 did not admit the 
truth of your premises ; for although there may be cases 
wherein the irritation may be very shght, I beheve there 
are very few, if any, where there is none. How can it 
be otherwise ? Any full grown person, in the enjoy- 
ment of health and vigor, has a lateral expansion of the 
ribs, amounting to from one to two inches in circumfe- 
rence, at every inspiration of the lungs ; that is, at 
every breath that is drawn ; this you may easily convince 
yourselves of, if, when you are in an undress, (unless 
your chest has been so long compressed as not to ad- 
mit of this expansion, which is not unfrequently the 
case,) you will take the trouble to pass a tape around your 
waists, and measure the difference there is in your circum- 
ference, when your lungs are empty, or when they are 
full of air : when you are troubled with a cold, or your 
breathing becomes impeded in any way, this is sensibly in- 
creased. Now the materials of which your Corsets are 
made, do not admit of this expansion, — if they did, they 
would not suit you purpose ; and is it not clear, that, if 
the lungs cannot expand in the way the all-wise maker 
of our frames intended, they must in one less con- 
genial — if they do at all ; and, consequently, your Cor- 
sets, by not permitting the lungs to expand the ribs, 
force them to play perpendicularly, as it were, and be- 
labor the stomach, and the liver, which are only separa- 
ted from the bottom of the lungs by a thin muscle, call- 
ed the diaphragm, or mid-riff, which is now called upon 
to do double duty. This constant and unnatural pres- 
sure upon the stomach, the Hver, and in short* all the 

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ilO LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

contents of the abdomen, becomes a great source of 
uneasiness. This oftentimes becomes almost insup- 
portable after a hearty meal, for the stomach cannot 
carry on its important function of digestion without 
bitter, and sometimes loud complaints. The evil is 
greatly increased by the board, the steel, or the bone, 
which stands a daring monster, right in front ; — as a 
lash, eternally goading on the deluded victim, to punish- 
ment and death. The uneasiness is frequently so great, 
that the witching hour of night, is hailed with pleasure, 
when you can, for a little while, lay aside these thorns 
of the flesh, and enjoy a momentary repose ; yes, and 
oftentimes, long before the hour of retirement, will you 
watch an opportunity, and slyly rid yourselves of this 
unpleasant companion. Often, indeed, have I blushed 
for ladies, when, by a side glance, I have noticed 
this ; and often too, has the blush crimsoned their own 
cheeks, when, by a hem or a cough, they have been com- 
pelled to drown the dull music of the screaking cord, or 
the hollow, rumbling, mutter, of the poor suffering te- 
nants within. 

Is not this the truth ? and think you all this can be 
endured with impunity ? It cannot, indeed, it cannot ; 
our life-strings are not tough enough to bear it ; and it 
is only owing to the kind law of nature, — which enables 
the system, step by step, to habituate itself to a degree 
of irritation, which, crowded at once upon it, would 
snap the brittle thread, — that allows your system, often- 
times, so long to support such grievous burthens ; — it 
is not because Corsets are not hurtful, but because your 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 211 

life is so tenacious. Many persons have been known to 
swallow from one to two ounces of laudanum, without 
doing themselves any apparent injury, when, by long 
continued babit, they had become accustomed to its 
use ; but only give one half, or one quarter of that 
quantity to one not famihar with its effects, and the con- 
sequence w^ould, in all probability, be fatal. It is the 
same with Corsets ; only lace up a person in full vigor 
of manhood, one who has never been punished with a 
strait jacket, but who has always been permitted to 
breathe in the manner intended by his Creator ; lace up 
such an one in the manner ladies of fashion are in the 
habit of lacing themselves, and compel that individual 
thus to remain for four and twenty hours, and if the ir- 
ritation does not produce fever, and set the system on 
fire, it will only be because there are no inflammable 
materials within its grasp ; and I will venture to say, 
keep him in this cramp only one week, and life itself 
would become extinct. You may imagine this to be al- 
together gratuitous, but I can assure you it is not ; simi- 
lar effects may daily be seen in mad houses, where the 
attendants are obhged to confine the poor raving maniac 
in a strait-jacket, in order to keep him from doing vio- 
lence to himself, or those about him ; and if care is not 
taken that they be not buttoned too tightly, they inva- 
riably produce fever. The strait-jacket of the maniac 
is nothing like as tight as your Corsets, and yet see how 
they dread them ; the very threat of using them, will 
often prevent the necessity of putting them on. And 
who. unacquainted with the fact, would be wailing to 



212 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

believe, that our delicate fair ones searched the cells of 
bedlam, and actually institute an appendage to their 
dress, which is the dread and the abhorrence of the 
bedlamite. 

Perhaps, you may not be aware, how very particular 
the Great Architect has been in the construction of 
your chest ; how very nice and exact, every part exter- 
nal to the lungs, is adapted to the functions to be car- 
ried on within. There are no less than forty-one bones, 
laid as the grand ground work of this curious fabric ; 
there are more than sixty joints in it, so as to admit of 
motion in every way. The breast bone itself, or that 
perpendicular bone connecting the ribs anteriorally, 
against which ladies press so unmercifully the upper 
part of their busk, is only six inches in length, and, 
in youth, has no less than two joints in that short 
space. The lower extremity of this bone is tipped with 
a piece of cartilage or grizzle, about two inches in 
length, which frequently remains elastic until the de- 
cline of life, and readily yields to any pressure, either 
from without, or from within. So important did your 
Maker think it, to order and provide that the essential 
process of respiration should be carried on without any, — 
nay, the least possible impediment. And yet, forsooth, 
because fickle fashion hath issued her decree, the potsherd 
becomes wiser than the potter ; all this wise construc- 
tion is discovered to be unnecessary, and it is conjec- 
tured, that it may be meddled with, and disorganized, 
and the daring hand of the intruder go unpunished. 
Only for one moment, take a glance at the astonishing 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 213 

operations, which are continually carried on within this 
bony cavity. Here is the heart, the center of circu- 
lation ; — that grand fountain, which sends forth, with ir- 
resistible power, the blood to every — the remotest part 
of the body ; — the grand reservoir, which also receives 
the blood, with all the impurities it has collected dur- 
ing its round of circulation, — receiving it only to send it 
through the lungs, to be purified, by the air which we 
inspire ; — it is sent into the lungs of a dark black color, 
it leaves the lungs of a florid red ; — constituting a process 
the most grand — the most wonderful, v*^hich has ever 
attracted the attention of philosophers. 

Here, too, is another receptacle, no less important, 
no less wonderful, — it is the thoracic duct ; it lies all 
along that portion of the back bone, entering into the 
formation of the chest ; its use is, to receive that small 
portion of nourishment which has been separated from 
our food ; and to deposite it in the blood vessels, to be 
sent throughout our system, to nourish and support 
every part ; and without which, we must starve. Within 
this cavity then, we find contained the complicated machi« 
nery for carrying on the circulation of the blood, the 
process of respiration, and likewise that of chylification. 

Take also a glance at the contour of the whole. A 
front view of a well formed chest, one which has been 
fashioned only by the hand of its maker, presents you 
%vith a figure resembling that of a half oval, being about 
four inches broad at the upper part, and ten at the 
lower ; the abdomen and thorax together, forming a 
long oval, similar to that of an egg ; but in the lady of 



214 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

fashion, these present a figure similar to that of a dou- 
ble oval ; or, if you will allow the comparison, similar 
to a kidney potatoe. Of course, you must see that 
you form a stricture, a narrowness, a separation where 
your maker did not see fit to make one ; and, strange 
to tell, those ladies who can make their waists the 
smallest, are considered the most beautiful, — -those 
nearest perfection, who most nearly resemble the wasp ; 
— I mean, in figure. To say the least of it, is it wise, 
let me ask you, to interfere with such a curious piece 
of workmanship ? Ask your own understandings ; does 
it look at all reasonable, that it can be interfered with at 
pleasure, and without detriment to the machinery with- 
in ? What would you think of a person, who should 
take his watch, and to suit his fancy, should hammer it 
oval, instead of leaving it round, as it came out of the 
hands of the artificer ; and if warned, before hand, that 
he would injure its machinery, should only laugh at his 
advisers, while he persisted in his folly ? Would you 
not be led to suppose, either that he cared nothing for 
the watch, or else, that he was mad ? and yet, his folly 
is not as great, in your eyes, as is your folly in the eyes 
of all who know any thing of the machinery of the hu- 
man frame : in as much as we consider the machinery 
within your chest, more valuable than the machinery 
within the case of the watch : from such sheer madness, 
then, preserve yourselves. 

I have already taken notice of some of the injurious 
effects of Corsets upon the system. It has not been 
my intention to illustrate the different injuries, or to enter 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 215 

fully into the philosophy of either. I am not writing a 
treatise upon the diseases which they produce or aggra- 
vate. I mean only to throw out some loose hints, if 
possible, to warn ladies of their danger ; whether my 
feeble voice be heard or not. 

Two or three more of their injurious effects remain 
to be taken notice of 

It is a fact, well known to physicians, that there is 
scarcely any power equal to continued pressure, where 
it can be conveniently applied, for the removal of glan- 
dular swellings. This principle operates powerfully up- 
on those two, not only highly ornamental, but essentially 
useful glands, situate upon the superior and anterior 
portion of your chest. The constant and unyielding 
pressure of your Corsets, very gradually, cause an al- 
most total disappearance of these glands, and not un- 
frequently, an entire absorption of them takes place ; so 
that many of our females, before they are five and thirty, 
or thereabouts, are actually obliged to use some deceit, 
in order to produce the appearance of breasts, or else 
appear as the saucy Peter Pindar said of Mrs. Dina, 

" Having no swell, 

No lovely swell, no more than on a cat. 
For lo ! was Dina's neck, I grieve to tell, 
As any touchstone or a flounder fiat." 

With many ladies it is often a matter of very serious 
lamentation, when they pass the rubicund, (as some wag- 
gish pensmen have seen fit to denominate the hne be- 
tween the girl and the old maid,) and yet no plan could 



216 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

be better adapted to hasten that period, than to level 
down these two attractive prominences. One would 
think, this of itself presented a consideration amply 
sufficient to bring Corsets into disrepute; especially 
when you remember, that in their flight, they lure away 
almost every visible charm from the countenance, and 
leave behind little more than a dry and withered plant. 

Another evil, and one that is of infinite importance 
to those who ever expect to become mothers, is, that 
they do most constantly cause a " growing-in' ' of the 
nipple, so that necessity compels an artificial one to be 
substituted ; the pain and inconvenience of which, does 
not unfrequently cause that distressing complaint, can- 
cer in the breast ; or if the evil should not be quite so 
melancholy as to produce such a catastrophy, still, few 
escape the comfort of a gathered breast, the very men- 
tion of which strikes such terror to the mind of any 
who have once experienced its agony. As a burnt 
child dreads the fire, so with equal certainty do such 
ladies dread a gathered breast. 

That Corsets either produce consumptions, or always 
aggravate any tendency to diseases about the lungs, 
seems to be a fact which ladies themselves do not often 
deny ; — it seems so reasonable, especially where a pre- 
disposition to that disease exists, — that any cause calcu- 
lated to impede the free play of the lungs, and to hin- 
der the free passage of the air through every part of 
them, must necessarily promote the kindling up of the 
flame, and continue to fan it until vitality shall be con- 
sumed. That Corsets have been one cause, and no in- 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 217 

considerable one either, of loading down the bills of 
mortality with consumptions, I have no doubt. I do not 
pretend, that they are the only cause which operates to 
produce the alarming increase of that protasn malady, 
but I know of no one cause more effectually calculated 
to bring on the disease, where other causes favor its 
production: — and where other causes do actually fa- 
vor its production, if it were not for the interposition 
of this one cause, the individual might, in all probabili- 
ty, live for much greater usefulness, and die like a shock 
of corn, fully ripe, free from any traces of this species 
of decay. Where the lungs are not fully expanded, an 
inflammation of them may exist undetected : It frequent- 
ly requires a full inspiration to discover the presence of 
disease in these parts ; and the longer a disease of 
this character remains unprovided for, the more seated 
becomes the attack, and sometimes the more hidden its 
nature ; because, the incipient symptoms may give rise 
to others, and may possibly lead the mind of the in- 
quirer, off from the true source of the evil, — and what 
was only the secondary, receive the attention which pro- 
perly belongs to that which was incipient. And, per- 
haps, we have not before our eyes, a more pitiable in- 
stance of blind infatuation, than when we see young la- 
dies, who have reason to think they have a predisposi- 
tion to consumption, and acknowledge the danger such 
persons are in, lace themselves in Corsets ; still unable to 
resist the influence of fashion ; notwithstanding it may 
be said that death itself, almost stares them in the face ; 

19 



218 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

yet they must wear them, determining, it would seem, 
rather to be out of the world than out of the fashion. 

Another evil, and by no means the least, because it 
is the last which I shall mention, is, that Corsets do 
cause that distressing, that once rare, but now com- 
mon complaint, distortion of the spine : and by tran- 
sposing the language of Dr. Smith, we may say, it is as 
uncommon now to see a girl perfectly straight, as it 
was to see one crooked before this appendage to fe- 
male dress was revived. 

It is satisfactorily ascertained, that nothing contri- 
butes more to form a crooked spine, than a torpid, or 
inactive state of the muscles connected with it. 

The Hindoo, vows he will never more use his arms ; he 
locks his hands upon his head, vowing never to remove 
them : the muscles of his arms wither, and shrink away 
to nothing ; and did he want to use them ever so much, 
they would be found utterly useless. It is the sledge and 
the hammer, which gives the blacksmith such prover- 
bial strength in his arms. It is the exercise of dancing, 
which gives the dancing master such proverbial power 
in his feet. Those persons who carry immense loads 
upon their heads, have the muscles of the spine and of 
the neck, proportionably increased in size, and of course 
in strength ; and not a crooked spine is known among 
them. Tailors, too, are proverbially, the most erect 
walkers we have ; (those, I mean, who sit upon their 
board ;) and the reason is, because the muscles of their 
neck and of their spine, are in such constant exercise ; 
having to support the head, and half of the body, in a 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 219 

half falling condition, for hours together. Birds, too. 
which are ever on the wing, have the muscles of the 
breast, large and powerful, while those which are ac- 
customed to fly but httle, and use their legs more, have 
the muscles of the thigh proportionably increased in 
size and power, while those muscles, which are not so 
constantly called into action, are comparatively weak 
and slender. 

- 1 mention these facts, drawn from correct observation, 
and familiar objects, to show that muscular exertion is the 
grand appointed means, not only of increasing the mus- 
cular power, but likewise of keeping the system itself in 
health ; and that muscular inactivity must necessarily be 
followed with a diminution of the size of the muscle, and 
consequently of its strength. Therefore, by plain infe- 
rence, it must follow ; an inert, dormant state of the mus- 
cles of the spine, must necessarily produce debihty in 
those parts : and if it is the peculiar province of these mus- 
cles, to retain the spine in an erect position ; when any 
cause intervenes to rob them of their energy, and induce 
debility, we can easily account for an inclination of the 
spine to one side or the other. That Corsets are calcula- 
ted to produce this effect, it appears to me, requires but 
half an eye to discover ; and that they do produce it, facts 
incontestibly prove. When put on only moderately tight, 
or what ladies might call very loose^ they prevent the mus- 
cles from fulfilling the part allotted to them, and from in- 
activity, gradually lose the power of keeping the body 
erect ; then the body must inchne, and it usually does, 
to the right side ; — and what was at first a local com.« 



220 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

plaint, often, very often, as too many suffering objects 
can testify, becomes the centre and the source of univer- 
sal disease. Hence, necessarily, arise faintings in pub- 
lic assemblies, or crowded, or over-heated apartments ; 
unaccountable prostration of strength, almost without 
exertion ; and a long train of fashionable evils, '^ too te- 
dious to mention J^"^ 

An author of the last century mentions, that mothers 
commonly laid their daughters upon their faces, on the 
floor, and with one foot upon their backs, tightened the 
cords. It is to be hoped, that such brutahty does not 
exist among us, although I fear the force used by push- 
ing with the knee against the spine, and puUing with 
the hands, is not very far inferior. 

Many mothers, however, even at the present day, are 
in the habit of putting Corsets upon their young chil- 
dren, in order to make them straight, as they tell us. 
Oh, I wish that I could convince them that this was the 
right way to make them crooked. You may, perhaps, 
make them look more erect while they have them on, 
but you cannot calculate, indeed, you cannot calculate 
the extent of mischief that is secretly brewing within. 
Let the muscles of the back be put in exercise, by en- 
couraging the child to romp and play, to hop, skip and 
jump, and my word for it, no stooping, no crooked spine 
will ever disfigure your daughters. And besides, what 
security have you, that when these young and tender 
plants shall be transplanted from the nursery, into the 
more open field of life, — when only a few more years 
shall have gone over their heads, — that some other mode 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



of fashion will not be introduced ? You, yourselves, 
have witnessed a remarkable change in this respect, only 
within a few years ; and you have no assurance that a 
change as great, will not again take place within as short 
a period. Fortune itself, is not more fickle than fashion ; 
and then all your pains-taking trouble, may be attended 
with unavailing regret, or bitter remorse. 

In order to show you that others think as -I think, 
and the more effectually, if possible, to convince you 
of your error, I will take the liberty of treating you with 
an extract or two, from some of our most celebrated me- 
dical writers ; and if those who ought to know, are not 
credited with the best knowledge, I know not to whom 
to refer the case. 

*^ As I am satisfied of their mischievous effects, I 
cannot help bearing my testimony against the indiscri- 
minate, and very improper use which is daily made of 
them. 

" They are used with the design to prevent growing 
children from becoming crooked or misshapen ; and this 
they are supposed to do, by supporting the back bone, 
and by forcing the shoulders unnaturally backward ; the 
former they cannot do ; and in all cases where the spine 
is weak, and thereby inclined to deviate from a right 
figure, the latter action of these instruments must con- 
tribute to, rather than prevent such deviation ; as will 
appear to any who will, with any attention, examine 
the matter : if instead of adding to the embarrassments 
of children's dress, by such iron restraints, parents would 

throw off all of every kind, and thereby give nature an 

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222 LETTERS TO MA^RRIED LADIES. 



opportunity of exerting her own powers ; and if, in all 
cases of manifest debility, recourse was had *to friction, 
bark, and cold bathing, with a due attention to air, diet, 
exercise and rest, the children of the opulent would, 
perhaps, stand a chance of being as stout, as straight. 
and as well shaped as those of the laborious poor." 

Potfs Surgical Works, 

" Women have a very bad custom of lacing them- 
selves in stays, made of whalebone, &c. both day and 
night : in these, the whole trunk of the body is kept 
firm by the stays, which, girding the belly tight, bear 
upon the bones of the ilhum,* and, at the same time, 
prop up the axillae.! Hence the strong muscles of the 
back, which serve to raise and keep the trunk of the 
body erect, are kept without action ; and as the same 
muscles scarce act while a person is lying in bed, hence, 
although the stays are laid aside in the night time, yet 
the muscles remain almost without action. For this 
reason, those wretched women, w^ho have been accus- 
tomed to use these stays from their childhood, cannot 
afterward lay them aside, but the whole trunk of their 
body will fall forward, the muscles of the back being 
rendered inactive, which, in a strong laboring person, 
keep the spine firm and erect, although a heavy load is 
laid upon the shoulders, as we see in porters. 

^^ I have seen, not without pity, such wretched wo- 
men, who durst not leave off* their stays, even in the 
night time, having frequently experienced, that they 

'• Hip bones, t Arm pit?. 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 223 

could hardly turn themselves in bed, much less raise 
themselves up in it, or support themselves upright with- 
out them. For this reason, a slight palsy of the lower 
extremities seems sometimes to follow." 

Van Swieteri's Commentaries, 

'• I cannot but advert, on this occasion, to the ill 
judged practice of mothers, who, with a desire of giving 
their daughters a fine shape, or of preventing, or remo- 
ving deformity, endeavor to effect it by the fashionable 
use of stays, and other equally bad means of support. 
The materials of which these are usually formed, are 
either whalebone or steel, and therefore yield little to 
the natural action of the parts to which they are de~ 
signed to give support. The motion of the intermedi- 
ate parts of the spine, must, by this means, be greatly 
circumscribed ; the action of the muscles attached to 
the trunk impeded ; the necessary determination and 
circulation of blood through their substance lessened, 
and, of necessity, their size and power diminished ; thus 
defeating the object in view, and increasing or perpetua- 
ting the deformity they are intended to remedy. The 
same may be also said of pressure made on the chest, 
by any other similar means, which may impede the free 
action of the muscles of resoiration." 

Ward on the Spine. 

The last quotation which I shall make, is from the 
excellent author of '' Advice to Mothers," who wrote 
when ladies had, in a manner, given up the use of stays, 
and before their second introduction, under the name of 
Corsets. " Yet, during the prevalence of so strange an 



224 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 

infatuation, [meaning the wearing of stays,] while de- 
formity was deemed beauty, all renlonstrances on the 
subject would have proved unavailing. It would then 
have been useless to employ such arguments, as now 
carry conviction to the unprejudiced mind. We may 
at present observe, with the hope of being listened to, 
that nature, when left to herself, gives every animal, ex- 
cept those who are formed for swiftness, a prominancy 
about the middle. If this is not only compressed, but 
the belly squeezed close to the back bone, obstructions 
of the viscera must ensue ; and no great knowledge of 
the human frame is necessary to satisfy any person, that 
such obstructions must prove fatal to health. When 
the vessels that take up and convey the nourishment to 
the body, have their functions by any means impeded, 
the whole system must suffer, and at length perish, by 
a gradual decay. But nothing can so effectually im- 
pede the functions of those soft parts, as pressure. The 
stomach becomes incapable of performing the grand 
office of digestion. The midriff is forced upwards ; — - 
the cavity of the chest is thereby lessened, and sufficient 
room is not left for the proper play of the lungs ; — a 
difficulty of breathing, coughs, and pulmonary consump- 
tions, are the natural consequences.*" 

Some ladies tell us they wear Corsets for comfort — they 
feel so comfortable with them on. Would you think it a 
sufficient excuse for the intemperate man to continue 
his revelry and his cups, if he should tell you, as they 
all will, that he feels so happy, and so comfortable, 
while under the influence of the intoxicating liquor : 



LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 22, 



would you not think his excuse a very lame one ? Bui 
if it is true, that you do feel so comfortable with them 
en, (which, by the by, I do very much doubt,) why not 
wear them at night, as welLas in the day ? I confess, I 
did know one who was consistent enough to do it ; but 
I believe very few are willing to punish themselves all 
night, as well as during the day. 

I scarcely ever remember to have found a lady, who 
acknowledged that she laced tight. Their uniform lan- 
guage is, " You talk about my Corsets being tight : it is 
no such thing ; they are always as loose as a rag upon 
me ; see, I can get my hand any where under them. 
No, I think it very hurtful to lace as tight as such, and 
such an one does ; I would not do it for any considera- 
tion." All I have to say to such persons, is, merely to 
put to them two plain questions. If your Corsets are 
so loose as you pretend they are, (for I cannot but be- 
lieve, that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, it is 
nothing but guilty pretence,) why, I ask, wear them 
at all ? and how happens it, that your bodies are indent- 
ed, where there ought to be a fulness — straitened for 
room, where you want room the most ? 

Some ladies, in their more serious moments, tell us, they 
do these things to please others, not themselves ; they 
think it makes them look more comely, more genteel than 
they otherwise would : — but rest assured, there is no 
charm about them, and you will scarce find one, whose 
opinion you respect, and who possesses but a tolerable 
knowledge of the animal economy, who will give you 
credit for your pains. I hope, then, you will reflect upon 



226 LETTERS TO MARRIED LADIES. 



what I have thus humbly offered, and that you will be 
enabled to see your error before it is too late. Say 
not, as some have often ,done, ^^ When I find they injure 
me, then I will slacken my hand, or lay them entirely 
aside, but not till then." Unfortunately, that period is 
oftentimes too late to permit the evil to be averted. Long 
before then, it often, as it were, becomes inwrought in 
your very systems, and no power, however salutary in 
other cases, may be found able to eradicate it. Our health 
once lost, is something like a character once impeached, 
— the blemish is very apt, ever afterwards to remain. 
Health is a jewel, too precious to be trifled with ; a jewel, 
the value of which we only know Jiow to estimate, but 
by its loss. If, therefore, it ever is praiseworthy to avoid 
the very appearance of evil, I hope, that ere long, it may 
be considered equally praiseworthy, to avoid the very ap- 
pearance of Corsets. Set it down as a rule you may 
always find true, that whosoever tells you they are harm- 
less, either knows nothing about the construction of your 
systems, or has very little regard for the health and hap- 
piness of the fairest portion of God's creation. 

I remain, &c. 

THE EDITOR. 

NetV'YorJc, April 3, 1827. 



VOTES. 



NOTES. 



Note I. — Pa^e 24. 

Notwithstanding the evils resulting from a belief in 
these notions, are more immediately interesting to fe- 
males, (as our author very justly observes,) yet, no one 
can for a moment be unmindful of the peace and happi- 
ness it would occasion an affectionate husband, to find 
his wife rising superior to these whims ; and, instead of 
continually loading his ears with a long sad tale of ail 
such apprehensions, and imaginary anxieties, (as is too 
much the case, even in this enhghtened age, and among 
the most enlightened circles also,) to have that time oc- 
cupied in conversation, more agreeable, more instruc- 
tive, and more becoming an intelligent, and reasonable 
being. 

Note II. — Page 24. 

It cannot be denied, that within a few years, female 
education in this country, has undergone an improve- 
ment, and has received a polish and a lustre, which 
does honor to the intelligence of these United States, 
and which has so justly received the high commenda- 
tion of some late European travellers ; — yet it is to be 
feared, that still, too great a value, and too high a de- 
gree of importance, is attached to those acquirements, 
which, generally speaking, are as evanescent as child- 
hood itself; and which are usually laid aside, almost as 

20 



230 

soon as the female becomes a mother. I imagine i! 
will scarcely be questioned, by the thinking part of so- 
ciety, that if eight, or even nine tenths of the time, 
which is now commonly wasted at the piano forte, 
embroidery, &c. &c. was employed in improving the 
mind and storing it with useful knowledge, which might 
reasonably be expected to come in play when the indi- 
vidual becomes introduced upon the stage of action, 
that she would prove to be not only a more useful mem- 
ber of society^ a more agreeable companion, and, by 
far, a more prudent wife,— but would ever possess, with- 
in herself, a source of pleasure, and a spring of enjoy- 
ment, which would never fail to yield a constant supply 
of excellent fruit. It would bring with it a degree of sa- 
tisfaction and contentment, for which she might in vain 
look, and look, again and again, to almost all the orna- 
mental branches of her education. It is therefore, ar- 
dently to be Vtished, that the public would demand, in 
the education of our females, more attention to the in- 
tellectual and less to the mechanical branches, (if I may 
be indulged with such an expression.) 

And besides, in medioaHty of attainment in any under- 
taking, and more especially in the ornamental branches 
of a young lady's education, there certainly can be no- 
thing enviable, nothing deserving praise, — the favorable 
opinion of fond parents, to the contrary, notwithstand- 
ing. And is it not affecting to think, how many there are 
who squander away large sums of money to obtain for 
their daughters, this phantom of education ; and w^ho, 
after all their pains and labor, are compelled to sit down 
only half-way winners of the prize 1 Disregarding the 
particular endowments of nature, — fit or unfit,— because 
it is a fashionable accomplishment, young ladies must 
devote a goodly share of their time to it : — is it painting, 
= — taste or no taste, they must paint ; is it music, — ear 
or no ear, voice or no voice, they must perform. So 
that, if nature has not endowed them, their parents seem 
determined to do it themselves. The folly of attempting, 



231 

ilie indiscriminate attainment of these branches of edu> 
cation, merely because they are fashionable, without 
duly and judiciously considering the capability of the in- 
dividual, will, I think, clearly appear, when we consider 
how few of those who have attended to them, ever ar- 
rive at the seat of superiority, ever merit the crown of 
praise. 

w* Not all 

Of mortal offspring can attain the heig^hls 

Of envi'd life ; Only few possess 

Patrician treasures, or imperial state," 

An extract from Miss Hannah More, is so very appli- 
cable to many of our young ladies, that I cannot resist 
the pleasure of inserting it. 

" But though a well-bred young lady may lawfully 
learn most of the fashionable arts ; yet, let me ask, does 
it seem to be the true end of education to make wo- 
men of fashion dancers^ singers^ players^ painters^ ac- 
tresses^ sculptors^ gilders^ varnishers^ engravers^ and 
embroiderers? Most men are commonly destined to 
some profession, and their minds are consequently turn- 
ed each to its respective object. Would it not be 
strange if they were called out to exercise their profes- 
sion, or to set up their trade, with only a little general 
knowledge of the trades and professions of all other 
men, and without any previous definite application to 
their own peculiar calling ? The profession of ladies, 
to which the bent of their instruction should be turned, 
is that of daughters, wives, mothers, and mistresses of 
families. They should be therefore trained with a view 
to these several conditions, and be furnished with a 
stock of ideas, and principles, and qualifications, and ha- 
bits, ready to be applied and appropriated, as occasion 
may demand, to each of these respective situations. 
For though the arts which merely embellish life, must 
claim admiration ; yet, when a man of sense comes to 
marry, it is a companion whom he wants and not an 
artist. It is not merely a creature who can paint, and 



232 

play, and sing, .and draw, and dress, and dance ; it is a 
being who can comfort and counsel him ; one who can 
reason, and reflect, and feel, and judge, and discourse, 
and discriminate ; one who can assist him in his affairs, 
lighten his cares, sooth his sorrows, purify his joys, 
-Strengthen his principles, and educate his children. 

'•'' That injudicious practice, therefore, cannot be too 
much discouraged of endeavoring to create talents 
which do not exist in nature. That their daughters 
shall learn every things is so general a maternal maxim, 
that even unborn daughters, of whose expected abili- 
ties and conjectured faculties, it is presumed, no very 
accurate judgment can previously be formed, are yet 
predestined to this universality of accomphshments. 
This comprehensive maxim, thus almost universally 
brought into practice, at once weakens the general 
powers of the mind, by drawing off its strength into too 
great a variety of directions ; and cuts up time into too 
many separate portions, by sphtting it into such an end- 
less multiplicity of employments. 1 know that I am 
treading on tender ground ; but I cannot help thinking 
that the restless pains we take to cram up every little 
vacuity of life, by crowding one new thing upon an- 
other, rather creates a thirst for novelty, than know- 
ledge ; and is but a well disguised contrivance to anti- 
cipate the keeping us in after-life more effectually from 
conversing with ourselves." 

Petrarch was once consulted upon the question of 
female education, and as the story is a pretty one, and 
the application good, you will pardon me if I give it to 
3^ou. 

'^ A lady who had heard of Petrarch's reputation, 
consulted him on a subject in which he was much inte- 
rested. She was an Italian ; her father was a man of 
wit and merit, and had given his daughter an education 
superior to what was usually bestowed on young women 
at that time. From her earliest years she was inspired 
Hy Wxe muses. The people of the world made a joke of 



233 

her, and said, 'the business of a woman is to sew and 
spin ;— cease to aspire after the poetic laurel, lay down 
your pen and take up the needle and the distaff.' These 
words discouraged her ; she was tempted to renounce 
poetry, yet could not determine, without reluctance. 
In this situation she addressed Petrarch in a poem, the 
sense of which, is as follows : 

'' O thou, who by a noble flight has arrived so early 
at the summit of parnassus, tell me what part I ought 
to act. I would fain live after I am dead ; and the 
muses can alone give me the life I desire. Do you ad- 
vise me to devote myself to them, or to resume my do- 
mestic employments, and shield myself from the cen- 
sures of vulgar minds, who permit not our sex to aspire 
after the crowns of laurel or of myrtle ?" 

Petrarch repHed thus : 

" Idleness, and the pleasures of the table, have ba- 
nished all the virtues ; the whole world is changed ; we 
have now no light to direct our way ; the man inspired 
by the muses, is pointed at ; the vile populace, who 
think of nothing but advancing their interest, say, ' of 
what use are crowns of laurel and myrtle ?' Philoso- 
phy is abandoned, and goes quite naked. O thou, — 
whom Heaven has endowed with an amiable soul, be 
not disheartened by such advice — follow the path you 
have entered, though it is but little frequented."* 

Besides the inutility of the principal part of ornamental 
education, the very acquisition of those branches is at- 
tended with ill consequences — in as much as they do 
not permit that due proportion of exercise which is so 
necessary to health. Exercise should be an indispen- 
sable regulation in all schools, and especially in all fe- 
male schools. Ward, in his excellent little treatise on 
diseases of the spine, makes some very just remarks, 
which are as applicable to our schools, as they are to 
those of England, and to American as to English ladies. 

* Dobson's Petrarch. 
20* 



234 

•'• This disorder," says Ward, in inquiring into the 
causes which may operate in producing so many in- 
stances of crooked spine, '-^ appears, not only from our 
observation, but that of others, to be of increasing fre- 
quency, more particularly among females in the opulent 
classes of society ; a circumstance which, perhaps, may 
be attributed to the present mode of education, in which 
greater attention is paid than formerly to the cultivation 
of the mind and female accomplishments, and less time, 
consequently, allowed for the bodily exercise necessary 
to the preservation of health. In no instance, perhaps, 
is the zealous regard of parents for their children more 
misapplied than in an over-craving desire for high at- 
tainments and polite accomplishments, at the expense 
of what is of infinitely paramount importance ; by which 
the future enjoyments of life are either much circum- 
scribed or destroyed, and the individual rendered the sub- 
ject of misery. The system acted upon in many of our 
boarding schools, in the education of females, I consi- 
der, in this respect, materially defective. The plan 
pursued, in most of the seminaries, is, to allow of little 
more than the exercise of walking ; it being deemed in- 
decorous or indelicate to run, or use any more active 
mode of exercising the body. This restraint is evident- 
ly a contradiction to the laws of nature, which disposes 
the young, in all classes of animals, to active exercise, 
and is designed as the means of producing a greater in- 
clination for food, and, consequently, of improving the 
powers of assimilation, and favoring the progressive 
grow^th of the body ; and in proportion as its wants be- 
come less, and no longer, require such assistance, the 
inclination diminishes with declining age."^ 

NoTB III.— Page 2S. 

A FAMILY with whom the editor is well acquainted, 
iiave a very pecuhar mark upon their foreheads, extend- 



Ward on the Spine. 



235 

ing a little way upon the bridge of the nose ; it is of a 
triangular shape, with undefined edges, and from one 
and a half to two inches in diameter ; but what is sin- 
gular, it only makes its appearance during mental excite- 
ment. And when tranquillity is restored, no blush is 
perceptible. It appears upon the father, the daughter, 
and two of the daughter's children. 

Another evil, and one of quite a different description, 
resulting, as was supposed, from an unsatisfied longing 
of the mother, I met with the other day while repro- 
ving a young man for intemperance : his wife replied. 
'^ poor fellow, he can't help it." ^^ Can't help it, I won- 
der why ?" ^^ Because it is an affliction which has been 
laid upon him, and he can't help it." In further con- 
versation, I found that a short time before the indivi- 
dual Vv as born, his m.other longed for a drink of spirits. 
and she did not gratify herself. And for more than 
thirty years, she has continued to mourn her folly, fully 
bebeving, that had she only taken a drink at that time, 
as she w^ anted, the evil of brutal intemperance would 
never have been allotted to her son. Of all lonmn^s. 
and of all effects of longings, this, I think, is a match 
for any ; — but why wonder at any thing produced by su- 
perstition ? 

Note IV,— Page 30. 

This is a circumstance for which the credulous be- 
lievers in this strange doctrine, — a doctrine caused by 
ignorance, and fanned by superstition, — can find no in- 
telhgible answer. If you ask them, why the mark looks 
so little like what their imaginations have conjectured 
that it does, and their mothers tell them that it must ? 
you put them to their ^'" wit's end," and the candid are 
oflen obliged to confess they cannot tell. The want of 
resemblance is usually so great, that the eyes, unaided c 
would never guess the original. 

A short time since, in conversation with an elderly 
lady upon the subject of marks, longings, ^c. she was 



236 

highly displeased with me, because I said, I did not be- 
lieve that it was more possible for the mother's imagination 
to mark the child while it was in the womb, than after it 
had made its escape. She told me that her son had a 
rat on his thigh ; that when she was four months '^ on 
her way," she went down cellar, and was intolerably 
frightened by a rat which run across her foot, and when 
the child was born, he had a perfect rat upon his thigh, 
and after that, how could I disbelieve it ; — why, I might 
as well try to make her believe the moon was made of 
green cheese. The following dialogue took place be- 
tween us : — " Does it look like a rat ?" " Yes, exact- 
ly." '' Has it a head and ears ?" '' Why, no." " Has 
it four legs ?" " No, it has not any legs." ^^ Well, has 
it a tail ? for you know all rats have tails." " You are 
only making fun of me, — no, to be sure it has not." 
"•Do you think any one would suppose it was a rat, if 
you should not tell them?" ''•I don't know that they 
would, but what of that, — as long as I know, that's 
enough." I told her, perhaps, in this instance, it was ; 
but observed, that as long as ladies were taught to be- 
lieve such notions as these, they must be continually 
harassed with distressing fears, while in the family-way, 
and more especially if they had been frightened by any 
object. 

Note V. — Page 35. 

Dr. Moore relates the following story, within the 
sphere of his knowledge : '• A lady who had great 
aversion to monkies, happened, unfortunately, during 
the course of her pregnancy, to visit in a family where 
one of those animals was the chief favorite. On being 
shown into a room, she seated herself on a chair which 
stood before a table upon which this favorite was already 
placed : he, not naturally of a reserved disposition, and 
rendered more petulent and wanton by long indulgence, 
suddenly jumped on the lady's shoulder. She scream- 
ed and was terrified ; but on perceiving who had treat- 



237 



rL !k V^"'"*'*' familiarity, she actually fainted- 
^?. h /'^K^'' '^' remaining course of her pregnancy 
she had the most painful conviction that her child^vS 
be deformed by some striking feature, or perhaps the 
whole countenance of this odious monkey. ^ ^ 
^i«n r ^^"^u °^-^^''*"' '^'^ "°* overcome this impres- 
tTe 4tf 'f ^ ™^f °^ ^-^^ P^'"^ ^he often lamented 
through lif/. ™\'*""^te child, who was doomed 
?n 3 wl° ''^u^ ^^^"* * ^"™^" ^«"1 in the body of 
midwife, wUh a lamentable voice, for a sight of her un- 
;°i""l °^^^P"ng'.«nd was equally pleased and surpri- 
sed, ivhen she received a fine boy in her arms. After 

cd?-'"^'*^' ^*'',\^^"' ™""*^^' ^" '^^ ^^Pt"re of this 
hPr i ?'^ ^"'' happiness, from pain and misery, 
there w' T^"^ ' u"*^ '''" '"^^^^'"^ '"^^^^^ her, tha 
he^rnf * another child. ^Another!' exckimed 
She, then It is as I have dreaded, and this must be the 
nionkey after all.' She was, bo;ever, once r^ore ha^ 
ply undeceived; the second was as fine a boy as the 

vn ;^ 1^'^ ^^^"^ ^""^^ ' *^^y Sy<^''' to be comely 
youths, without a trace of the monkey in either theiV 
faces or dispositions." ' «uner men 

Note VI. — Page 41. 
I MUST confess myself at a loss, to conceive the ne- 
cessity of supposing external injury necessary to mark 
the infant in the womb. Marks often appear on parts 
of the child which do not come in contact with the mo - 

^ZX l:^° "^^ "''?'^' ^* ^^^"t' it i^ questionable, 
whether a blow or a jolt suiBciently severe to produce 
an external mark, would not be abundantly sufficient to 
cause an organ so highly sensible as the womb, to rid 
Itself of Its contents. Furthermore, if thev are owing 
to inflammatory action, produced by external violence, 
have we not the right to expect some of the conse^ 
quences of inflammation ? Now one of the nmst common 
consequences of inflammation from a blow, is suppura- 



238 

tion ; but who ever remembers to have seen a mark ex- 
hibit any signs of having once discharged matter ? and. 
allowing that it had undergone inflammation and suppu- 
ration, and had discharged itself, it certainly is not rea- 
sonable to expect a red, or a brown mark, but a white 
one ; for this process always leaves a white scar. 
Again, if a bruise, or any other external injury is capa- 
ble of producing these blemishes before birth, it may be 
expected they would, at, or after the birth of the child. 
Now, perhaps, there is no possibility of applying any 
thing hke the degree of pressure, to the infant in the 
womb, as its head necessarily^ receives during its pas- 
sage into the world ; and yet how rare are marks about 
the head ; they sometimes appear upon the face, it is 
true ; but these are not the parts which receive the 
greatest injury. It is presumed these reasons are sufii- 
cient to show, that marks cannot reasonably be the re- 
sult of blows, jolts, or bruises, and not only so, but I con- 
ceive it entirely unnecessary, to make even such a con- 
jecture, or allow the possibility of such an occurrence, 
with so little impunity. 

Note VII.— Pa^^ 45. 

The ingenious author here asks a question, and leaves 
the reader to form an answer. And he might have 
added, that all who do believe the imagination of the 
mother capable of affecting the shape and appearance 
of the infant already formed within her womb, notwith- 
standing their unwillingness to acknowledge it, do actu- 
ally give credence to present reality of miracles. How 
can it be otherwise ? Let me state a case for you, and 
perhaps the strongest one you can well conceive of. 
A lady yesterday became extremely frightened at a man 
with a contorted arm and a disfigured hand ; to-day she 
is taken in labor, and before to-morrow is confined, and 
her oflfspring has the distressing misfortune to bear about 
a contorted arm, or a disfigured hand, resembling, per- 
chance, in some measure the one, which only the day 



239 

before caused such terror to her mind. Now should 
you say, as do those who beheve in these doctrines, that 
this was all caused by the fright the afflicted mother 
experienced, you must attribute the absence of paijij 
inflammation, sivelling, &c. to nothing less than a mira- 
cle. Pain, inflammation, swelling, and death itself, are 
the common attendants upon so tremendous, so man- 
gled a fracture. Why do not the splinters of bone work 
through the skin, and do violence to the mother? Why 
should not the inflammation extend, the parte mortify 
and drop off", or the little sufferer die in consequence of 
the injury] If the imagination of the mother has the 
power of producing such extensive injuries, so expedi- 
tiously and free from the usual concomitants of injuries, 
you can account for it on no other principle, than that 
of miracle. Imagination can kill, and imagination can 
cure, as a very wise head once expressed himself; but 
imagination cannot break bones. Had this accident 
happened only a few hours later, — after the child had 
been brought into the world, — all the long train of sad 
consequences I have enumerated, would necessarily 
take place. 

Note VIII.— Page 46. 

In a former note, I had occasion to point out what 
it appeared to me these blemishes could not be, and 
now, if in a very few words, I should endeavour to show 
what they may be, I hope I may not be thought as step- 
ping beyond my province. I have not the smallest de* 
sire of making mothers more learned in these matters, 
than what is deemed meet for their own comfort and 
happiness. To tell them they have wrong notions about 
these things, and incorrect ideas respecting their origin, 
without telling them what is considered to be a more 
tational philosophy concerning them, would not be do- 
ing as I should wish to be done by ; it would be deem- 
ngd unfair play indeed, and I could certainly expect then> 
to return me nothing but ungraciotss thanklessness for all 



MO 

my labor. And, surely, if I can give them views which 
will, in any measure, allay their tormenting fears, they 
and their husbands must ever feel grateful. I would 
not wish to forget that I am addressing ladies, and not 
physicians. 

There are three kinds of blemishes sometimes visi- 
ble upon children at their birth, exclusive of deformity 
of parts, whether from deficiency or redundancy. 

1. Moles or Httle elevated pimples, generally, though 
not always, without color, and usually crowned off with 
a little tuft of hair. They are as common upon one 
part of the body as upon another ; and where the mo- 
ther has one, it is very common for some of her child- 
ren to have one like it ; and often in the same situa- 
tion. 

2. Colored blotches, having their seat beneath the 
scarf skin, in the net work, as anatomists call the se- 
cond layer of our integuments ; having no elevation of 
surface ; possessing no symptoms of disease, and always 
remaining through hfe without any other inconvenience, 
but what results from their color and situation. They 
may occur upon any part of the body, and some affirm, 
that they appear more frequently upon the face than 
elsewhere ; but how this is, I cannot determine. They 
are of various hues ; red, brown, scarlet, or yellow. 
They are supposed to arise from a deposition of some 
coloring matter, at a very early period of gestation. 

It is well known, that sailors, from superstitious no- 
tions, often mark themselves upon their arms and 
breasts, with different shaped figures ; by depositing un- 
der the scarf skin, various colored paints, by means of 
sharp pointed needles ; which marks remain through 
life. This second species of blemish is something of 
the same kind, not however performed in the same way, 
but deposited by the hand of Him who fashioneth us as 
he pleases. 

3. The SUPERFICIAL ANEURISM, or a congcries of mi- 
nute blood vessels, collected together upon the skin. 



241 

communicating freely with each other, and always rai- 
sed above the surface ; of a very florid red color, and 
constantly liable to profuse, and sometimes fatal bleed- 
ings ; to pain, swelling, and inflammation. This spe- 
cies is frequently curable, by judicious treatment, so 
that they may be made almost totally to disappear. 
They doubtless receive their formation very soon after 
conception. Sometimes they increase to a conside- 
rable size after birth, and inflammation and pressure 
often put a period to their growth. 

These are some of the diseases which are visible up- 
on the skin of new born infants ; and, as well might we 
attribute all the diseases under which helpless infancy 
suffers, to the influence of the mother's mind, as to at- 
tribute to that cause, those which occur before birth. 
Why should it be thought so mighty strange, so insur- 
mountably impossible, for the foetus to be subject to 
disease, when disease attacks it, oftentimes, so soon af- 
ter it is born ? To those who still would desire to know 
more of the cause of these unpleasant productions, I 
would say, when we can tell why the hair of one is 
black, and that of another white, — why the eyes of one 
should be blue, and those of another grey, — we may be 
able to tell why children are sometimes thus marked at 
their birth. 

Note IX.— Page 50. 

" Let me play the fool : 

With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come ; 

And let my liver rather heat with wine, 

Than my heart cool with mortifying groans. 

Why should a man, whose blood is warm witliin, 

Sit like his grand-sire cut in alabaster ? 

Sleep when he wakes ? and creep into the jaundice 

By being peevish." 

•' Cheerfulness or good humour has the happiest in- 
fluence on the body and mind ; it gives a salutary im- 
pulse to the circulation of the blood, keeps all the vital 
organs in easy and asrreeable play, render the outward 

21 



242 

deportment highly pleasing, while the perpetual sun- 
shine within^ spreads a fascinating loveliness over the 
countenance. Its opposite, peevishness or ill humour, 
embitters life, saps the constitution, and is more fatal 
to beauty than the small-pox, — because its ravages are 
more certain, more disgusting, and more permanent." 

^' It is during pregnancy also, that every woman should 
be doubly attentive to preserve the utmost sweetness 
and serenity of temper, to dispel the glooms of fear or 
melancholy, — to calm the rising gusts of anger, — and 
to keep every other unruly passion or desire, under the 
steady control of mildness and reason. The joy of be- 
coming a mother, and the anticipated pleasure of pre- 
senting a fond husband with the dearest pledge of mu- 
tual love, ought naturally to increase her cheerfulness, 
and would certainly produce that effect, were not those 
emotions too often checked by a false alarm, at the 
fancied danger of her situation. It is, therefore, of the 
utmost importance to convince her, that her terrors are 
groundless ; that pregnancy is not a state of infirmity 
or danger, but afibrds the strongest presumption of 
health and security ; that the few instances she may 
have known of miscarriage or death, were owing to the 
improper conduct of women themselves, besides being 
too inconsiderable to be compared with the countless 
millions of persons in the hke condition, who enjoy, both 
then, and afterwards, a greater degree of health than 
they ever before experienced." 

" Though the chilling influence of fear, and the de- 
pression of melancholy, are very injurious to the mo- 
ther's health, and to the growth of the foetus in her 
womb ; yet anger is a still more formidable enemy. It 
convulses the whole system, and forces the blood into 
the face and head with great impetuosity. The danger 
is increased by the usual fullness of the habit in preg- 
nancy. When the blood runs high and rapid, a vessel 
may burst, and in such a part as to terminate, or bring 
into great peril, the existence of both the mother and 



243 

child. Cases often occur of the bursting of a blood 
vessel in the brain, occasioned by violent gusts of pas- 
sion. There is no doubt, that passionate women are 
most subject to abortions, which are oftener owing to 
outward violence, or internal tumult, than any other 
cause. 

" I have already laid it down as a fixed principle, that 
a state of pregnancy is not a state of infirmity or dis- 
ease, but of increased sensibility ; and that the changes 
which a woman then feels in herself, though sometimes 
accompanied with a little pain or uneasiness, are but 
notices of her situation, or warnings against indiscre- 
tion or intemperance. 

" The alleged or fancied wants of the child, may be 
urged as a plea for some little excess, or an excitement 
to more than ordinary gratifications ; but it requires on- 
ly a moment's reflection, on the part of any woman of 
common sense, to be convinced, that what disorders 
herself must injure the contents of her womb ; and that 
the injury is the greater, in proportion to the deUcacy 
and the slow expansion of those contents. To over- 
step the bounds of temperance in the early stage of 
pregnancy, from an idea of the embryo's wanting such 
suppHes, would be almost as frantic as to drown an in- 
fant, for the purpose of quenching its supposed thirst, 
or gorge, it even to bursting, in order to satisfy the era- 
vings of imaginary hunger."^ 

Note X.— Page 51. 

'' Some women would sooner forgive us for supposing 
they had taken a false step, than for thinking that they 
could not have children ; so that we must be exceeding- 
ly careful, to avoid any hints which they can construe 
as implying that. All these cases requiring great care, 
we should break them very slowly. The woman can- 

* Advice to Mothers, 



244 

not bear, the husband cannot bear, nor can any of the 
friends bear, to hear that it is no such thing."* 

Note XL — Page 51. 

The editor well remembers to have heard Mr. Cooper 
of Guy's Hospital, relate in his lectures, an instance of 
error in judgment, similar to the one here recorded, 
with this diiference only, the operation was performed; 
and when no water followed the instrument, as the ig- 
norant operator expected, not dreaming that his judg- 
ment could be wrong, he actually made a second at- 
tempt ; when, petrified and astounded, he found, but too 
late, that he had not only ruined his own character, but 
had greatly endangered the poor woman's life. 

Note XII.— Pa^e 51. 

Mistakes, on the other side of the question, are also 
made, and are not of very unfrequent occurrence either. 
'^It seems the most unaccountable mistake in the 
world," says a late anonymous, but ingenious writer, 
^'for a woman to consider herself pregnant when she is 
not ; and yet it is amazing how common a complaint 
this is. It seems a very odd mistake to make ; but yet 
we may suppose it for many reasons. The time of life 
most incident to the error we now speak of, is that in 
which a woman is apt to indulge in the pleasures of the 
table ; this will produce indigestion, and sickness in the 
morning, though it will be attended with flatulency. 
The woman, for fear of killing the child, loosens her stay 
strings, which has the good effect of giving the wind 
more room to rumble and stir, which is again obstinate- 
ly mistaken for the motion of the child. From her ta- 
king largely the enjoyments of the table, she increases 
in size, and her breasts participate of the general ful- 
ness. : This is explained to be milk coming into them. 

"We must always recollect, that whenever we are 

^ London Practice. 



245 

consulted by a woman in this situation, we must express 
ourselves guardedly. We may say, no doubt she is with 
child, but we have some doubt with regard to her reck- 
oning on her confinement. We may ask if she has been 
sick in the morning, all the time from that she first reck- 
oned ? She will say, '' No, certainly ; but do you 
doubt my being with child ?" ^' O no, there is little doubt 
of that ; but stomach complaints will, at times, arise in 
a very strange way ; you have felt the motion of the 
child, I suppose ?" "O yes." "But have you ever felt 
a limb coming up, or a knee pressing, as if it would 
come through your side ?" '''Why, no, not so plain as 
that, certainly ; but I have felt it move so often, that 
there can be no doubt." "Aye, but are you sure that 
it might not be wind ?" "Why, dear me, sir, you never 
doubted it before." " Oh, I don't doubt it now ; but 
wind will do this, and feel a good deal hke a child- 
Pray are you always sick in the morning ? because I 
once knew a young lady who was mistaken on this 
point, and she had some children afterwards." 

Note XIII.— Pa^e 62. 

" Very strong, and very weak women are most prone 
to miscarriages ; but the numbers of the strong bear no 
proportion to those who are of delicate constitutions ; 
the numbers of active country women, to the more indo- 
lent and inactive inhabitants of cities ; the number of 
those of good sense, and calm and steady minds, to the 
weak, the irritable, and the passionate ; and hence a most 
important lesson, that good health, and a good educa- 
tion, are the best preventives ; and that it, in a great 
measure, depends upon mothers, and the care they take 
in rearing their girls, to lessen this great and common 
evil."* 

" The general cause of miscarriages, is either too 
great strength, or too great weakness : and with re- 

* Dr. Bard. 
21* 



246 

gard to the occasional causes, we may mention sympa- 
thy ; this has such an effect with other animals, that there 
is not a shepherd, but knows if one sheep aborts, others 
must abort too. If a sheep lambs, the shepherd always 
separates that animal from the flock, to prevent the 
other ewes from lambing before their time. One ani- 
mal is thrown into action, because the other animal is 
acting. Consents^ also, are common in animals, as 
well as sympathies. Certain parts of the body are con- 
nected in disease — as the nose with the rectum in ascar- 
ides, and the shoulder with the liver. Crying is known 
to produce tears in many beholders. If a man goes into 
a theatre, where the people are all laughing at some joke 
the actor has just spoken, he will grin too, without al- 
most wishing to inquire why. If a person is seized 
with a fit of gaping, those who are near will spontane- 
ously follow the example. 

" There are so many instances of this disposition to 
imitate, that it proves the impropriety of a pregnant wo- 
man ever being in the room, with one who has been mis- 
carrying. Passions of the mind frequently cause a miscar- 
riage ; and none so surely as those which increase the ac- 
tion of the heart and arteries. Rage may do it very speedi- 
ly. The union of the sexes often cause women to abort : 
and where the disposition is known to exist, the best 
way is to separate the wife from the husband, until the 
period of quickening is past, when there is less danger 
of this occurrence. ""^ 

" Subdue desires, nor let your troubl'd mind, 
Immoderate love, or fear, or sadness find ; 
Give not yourselves ev'n to the nuptial joy, 
Or aught that may your strength apace destroy. 

Curb each loose desire, 

Lest added fuel quench the former fire ; 

Lest ye should loose the fruits of pleasure gone, 

And love itself, undo what love had done." 



^iOndoa Practice. 



24T 

Note XIV.— Pa^e 53. 

*^ Let the gentleness of the female mind be such, a?^ 
springs from a genuine and proper source. It will then 
be connected, not with the cruel family of hatred to 
which fear is allied, but with that of humility, meekness 
and modesty. For let it ever be remembered, that 
every strong impression which the mind receives, dis- 
poses it to the reception of kindred impressions ; and 
that as love, hope and joy, and all the amiable passions 
and affections, enhance each other ; so do the ungrate- 
ful and unamiable ones of fear, hatred and aversion, 
with all their odious attendants, of suspicion, jealousy, 
and revenge. 

" Timidity is by some considered as not only grace- 
ful in the female character, but as necessary^ to prevent 
the consequences of that rashness to which girls may 
be exposed by their inexperience of the world. For 
this I consider humility and its companion, diffidence, 
to be infinitely more effectual. Timidity, as far as I 
have been able to observe, has generally been produc- 
tive of rashness. Where the affections are interested, 
it requires no small degree of courage to examine all 
the possible consequences of a material step. At 
these the timid dare not?j|ook : — obstinately shutting 
their eyes, blindly leap into the gulf, and often, alas, do 
they perceive, when it is too late, that cowardice impel- 
led their ruin. Another effect of extreme timidity is, 
in a moral view, well worthy of our attentive consider- 
ation. The timid seldom will he found sincere. Cun- 
ning is the constant refuge of cowardice ; it is the des- 
picable weapon of pusillanimous minds to counteract 
what they dare not openly oppose ; — how contemptible 
is the tergiversation so often detected in those, who 
from timidity applaud that which in their hearts they 
condemn ; into what deplorable dilemmas are the rash, 
and timid, frequently betrayed; the character of St. Pe- 
ter, as given in the gospels, is a beautiful example. 
Nor is he, alas, the only one whom timidity has betray- 



248 

ed to actions, for which they have had cause to weej) 
bitterly. 

'^ That cowardice may sometimes be a constitutional 
defect, I cannot take upon me to deny ; but that it is 
often an adventitious and acquired one, I think we may 
venture to assert ; and as it may frequently be traced 
to strong impressions made on the infant mind, produ- 
cing associations that are permanent and indelible, we 
must allow that it has a sufficient claim upon our atten- 
tion."^ 

To the same work, we would refer our readers for far- 
ther information upon this very interesting subject, as- 
suring them that they will be amply compensated for 
the little time the perusal of it may occupy. 

Note XY.—Page 53. 

^' Most of the sympathies observable in men, work 
as strongly, and produce as regular effects as if they 
were natural, and are therefore called so, though they 
at first had no other original but the accidental connec- 
tion of two ideas, which either the strength of the first 
impression or future indulgence, so united, that they al- 
ways afterward kept company together. I mention this, 
that those who have children, or the charge of their 
education, w^ould think it worth their while, diligently to 
watch, and carefully to prevent, the undue connection 
of ideas in the minds of young people. This is the 
time most susceptible of lasting impressions. 

'^ Now what is the cure for these evils in ourselves ? 
no other but this, that every man should let alone others' 
prejudices, and examine his own. Nobody is con- 
vinced of his^ by the accusation of another ; he recri- 
minates by the same rule, and is clear. The only way 
to remove this great cause of ignorance out of the 
w^orld, is, for every one impartially to examine himself. 
If others will not deal fairly with their own minds, does 



* Hamilton on Education. 



249 

that make my errors truths ? or ought it to make me in 
love with them, and willing to impose on myself?"* 

Note XVL—Page 54. 

Miscarriages are not pecuUar to the human species, 
although they are more subject to it, because they lead 
more unnatural lives. We see, agreeably to this rule, 
that the domestic animals more frequently miscarry than 
those that are wild. 

Note XVlh—Page 54. 

This advice cannot T:)e too strongly impressed upon 
the minds of ladies. It is only a few months since a 
lady applied to me in considerable distress of mind, for 
my advice. She was within six or seven weeks of her 
confinement, and had always been in the habit of a good 
degree of exercise, and always found herself the better 
for it. She indulged principally in that of walking, and 
usually, if the weather would permit, before breakfast ; 
but some kind friends, more fearful than wise, sounded 
a loud, and an alarming word of caution in her ears ; 
suggesting to her the probability of danger to herself 
and child, if she continued this very salutary habit. 
She listened to them for a while, until she began to feel 
very unpleasant effects, fi'om changing activity for rest. 
In this situation, she desired my opinion. I told her by 
all means to resume her morning walk ; assuring her, 
that any exercise she saw fit to take, that did not induce 
fatigue, need not excite in her the least solicitude re- 
specting her own safety, or that of her offspring. She 
followed my advice, and went her full time, (having mis- 
carried in her last pregnancy). She had a very favora- 
ble getting to bed, a speedy recovery, and the satisfac- 
tion of being presented with a remarkably fine and 
healthy child. 

♦' From labor health, from health contentment springs, 
^ Contentment opes the source of every joy," 

* Locke on the Understanding, 



260 

*•' Indolence," says the excellent author of * Advice to 
Mothers,' " in pregnancy, is not only one of the great- 
est causes of abortion, but of the puerperal, or child- 
bed fever, so fatal to delicate mothers. A v^oman who 
lives fully, and neglects exercise, cannot fail to bring on 
a plethora, or a fulness of the habit, and redundancy of 
humors, which must be productive of very bad effects. 
The whole frame becomes languid ; all the vital organs 
seem to loose their energy ; the powers of the womb 
in particular, are influenced or perverted ; and though 
a miscarriage should not take place, the labors are sure 
to be long, severe, and dangerous; and the offspring 
puny and deformed. In order, therefore, to secure the 
blessings of a happy deUvery, and healthy child, a preg- 
nant woman ought to take every day a moderate degree 
of exercise, such as she has been most accustomed to, 
only using less exertion, and guarding against fatigues ; 
slow, short walks in the country, or gentle motion in 
an open carriage, must be far better suited to the ad- 
vanced period of pregnancy, by uniting the advantages 
of fresh air, with those of agreeable and solitary exer- 
cise. 

'' In order to leave no doubt upon this subject, an ap- 
peal has been made to facts, and particularly to the ex- 
perience of women who follow very hard occupations 
in the country. They feel no inconvenience from their 
usual employments in the early months of pregnancy, 
and require no indulgence, but a little abatement of their 
toil when they become unwieldly. They know nothing 
of artificial precepts, which would teach them to invert 
the order of nature. Temperance and moderate exer- 
cise, proper periods of labor and of rest, the country 
air and the cheering influence of a contented mind, in- 
sure to them a continuance of health in every stage ; an 
exemption from the common diseases of pregnancy ; an 
easy lying-in, and a speedy recovery from child-bed. The 
vigor of their offspring is justly proverbial." 



251 

Note XVIII. — Page, 55. 

Were it not for the fact, that our eyes are daily and 
hourly offended by the abominable custom of ladies in 
the family-way lacing themselves up in Corsets, we 
should be very unwilling to believe it ; nay, nothing but 
ocular demonstration would be sufficient to convince 
us that it was even so. What the editor has said in the 
additional letter, respecting the pernicious and ruinous 
effects of Corsets upon the constitution, applies with a 
ten fold force to cases of this kind. Is it not sufficient 
that you torture yourselves by inches, and sap the foun- 
dation of your own health ? Must you drag along with 
you your unborn infants, and entail upon them some con- 
stitutional defect which they must struggle under, until 
death shall reheve them of their sufferings ? For shame 1 
Oh, for shame ! ! 

" Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon.'^ 

Note XIX,— Page 56. 

Facts speak louder than words, and produce effects 
ten times more lasting. To show the impropriety of 
indiscriminate bloodletting, or of bleeding mearly be- 
cause "mother was ; and aunt Sally thinks it is very ne- 
cessary," I will furnish you with a case quite in point. 
I might relate a host of them, but one is as good as a 
thousand. I speak from personal knowledge. Mrs. 

—— -, a charming woman, in the bloom of youth, and 

the sweet enjoyment of health : during her first preg- 
nancy, (as soon as it was clearly ascertained that she 
was in the family-way,) at the suggestion of some of 
the knowing ones, of whom a multitude are always at 
hand, sends off for the doctor, to call and bleed her. 
He attended, and as a doctor, above all men, may bet- 
ter be out of the world than out of fashion, he comphed 
with her request ; the operation was repeated about the 
sixth month, and I believe, again at the eighth. At 
the proper time, she got to bed — but for four and 



1 



252 

twenty hours, very faint hopes of her restoration were 
entertained. She however revived, but having been so 
completely bleached by the lancet before her confine- 
ment, her recovery was slow and tedious. The infant 
looked hke the mother, pale and puny. After a year, 
or there abouts, madam and her friends were all dis- 
tressed to find her again in the family way ; and strong 
fears were entertained for her safety. Not suspecting, 
however, that bleeding had any deleterious influence, the 
doctor was again summoned, and again abstracted the 
usual quantity of blood. The operation was repeated as it 
was the time before, and at her accouchment, the same 
alarming and fearful circumstances occurred, as took 
place at the first — and her recovery for a long time re- 
mained very doubtful ; but in five or six weeks she was 
enabled to get about again. — Having changed her family 
physician during her third pregnancy, a totally different 
course was pursued. He would not consent to bleed 
lier, even at the impetuous and repeated solicitations of 
of herself and her friends : he had much difficulty in 
pacifying her, but at length succeeded. The hour of 
painful suspense arrived ; she got to bed without a re- 
currence of those frightful symptoms which before had 
so justly excited such fearful apprehensions ; and, after a 
short and comfortable confinement, she was enabled to 
attend to the concerns of her family. Since that, she 
has been the mother of three children, and has never 
had a protracted confinement, and has never been bled. 

Note XXL— Page 67. 

Dr. Smith does not wish, by this interrogation, at 
all to favor the common, but hurtful and pernicious no- 
tion, that because a woman is in the family-way, she 
therefore must indulge more freely in eating and drink- 
ing. This idea is repugnant to every iota of common 
sense, and all sound experience upon the subject. He 
merely wishes to make it appear, that in ordinary cases, 
a woman has no more nourishment than she requires, and 



253 

needs not the officiousness of the lancet, without the ad- 
vice of an able and experienced counsellor. Neither 
does he wish to favor the equally pernicious idea, that 
they ought never to lose blood. The true and safe 
course, and the one pursued by every judicious practi- 
tioner, is, as a general rule, to bleed only when the neces- 
sity appears plain, and not at the request of the patient 
without an acquiesence of his own judgment. 

Note XXL— Page 62. 

Another remark or two seems necessary to be made 
in this place, before entering upon the subject of the 
present letter. It is a very common, and a very dis- 
tressing, as well as an injurious circumstance, for a wo- 
man, at the first symptoms of approaching labor, to feel 
all the alarm, and terror, and perturbation, attending 
some most dreadful and dangerous occurrence. I have 
frequently seen women so affected by this distressing 
sense of fear, as to have their whole frame tremble like 
an aspen leaf, and shake like those suffering the rigor of^ 
an intermittent. Now this is all wrong ; it is doing 
yourselves a great injury, and tends greatly to protract 
your sufferings ; — to lengthen out your pains, to increase 
their number, and lessen their efficacy. Rest assured, 
you have nothing to fear, or nothing in comparison with 
what you may Taave pictured to yourselves. You ac- 
custom yourselves too much to look upon the hour of 
your lying-in, as the almost certain hour of your death. 
And many, with whom I am well acquainted, make all 
the preparation that could be expected, were they actu- 
ally upon the bed of death ; — leaving directions as to 
what shall be done with their famiUes ; — what they would 
wish to be "laid out in," and actually getting them 
ready ; — giving directions about their funeral, and some- 
times fixing upofi the spot of earth where they desire to 
be laid. Associating such gloomy thoughts, and such 
dark forebodings with the birth of a child, is well calcu- 
lated to rob vou of every source of comfort, and to dry 

22 



234 

up every spring of happiness, and not only as relating 
to yourselves, but affecting almost all about you, and of 
course making you an unpleasant companion, even to 
the most affectionate husbands. 

It is vi^ise, it is greatly wise to live in a constant pre- 
paration for death; — nay, it is an indispensable duty; 
we owe it to Him who came to take away the sting of 
death ; we owe it to ourselves ; but it by no means fol- 
lows, that we should live all our life-time in the fear of 
death, "dying a thousand deaths in fearing one," it is 
doing injustice to our God, and injury to ourselves. 

Long tried experience is enough to convince you, 
that your fears are groundless. Experience tells you, 
in as loud a voice as ten thousand times ten thousands 
tongues can utter, that " if you have done nothing to in- 
jure your healthy during the previous state of your preg- 
nancy^ you may rely with perfect safety upon the admira- 
ble resources of nature; all that is required of you in 
labor, is a becoming submission to nature's course of 
operations; the steps by which she advances to her 
' great end are sometimes slow, but always safe, and she 
is not to be hurried or disturbed with impunity." It is 
a remark which has often been made by those physicians 
who are best acquainted with bed-side sickness, that 
those females who submit to every necessary requisition, 
with the most patience, and the greatest degree of 
cheerful resignation, do actually suffer less, and have by 
far the safest recovery. 

Another consideration which doubtless should have 
some weight in favor of tranquillity and composure, is, 
the danger attending a sudden and unexpected transi- 
tion from the extreme of one passion, to the extreme of 
another. Whosoever is acquainted with the history of 
early times, knows, that "when Hannibal overcame 
the Romans, at the battle of Cannae, where fifty 
thousand men were slain, that two women instant- 
ly expired with excess of joy, on seeing their only 
sons unexpectedly return, whom they had been told 



255 

were among the dead. Sophocles being pronounced 
\ictor among the tragic Grecian poets, was himself over- 
come by a tumult of joy, and forfeited his life to glory. 
Such also was the fate of the Spartan father, who died 
embracing his son, when crowned with conquest at the 
Olympic games."* 

But we have no necessity of travelling back to such 
distant history, to prove the power of joy, nor even to 
any other history than that which is recorded in the me- 
mory of almost any one of us. We can, perhaps, all 
remember some instances of the baneful influence of a 
sudden burst of any one of the passions. It is not long 
ago, that a lady, at whose accouchment the editor of 
these letters officiated, who so fully expected death im- 
mediately to follow the birth of her child, that when she 
found it did not, the excess of joy was so great, as to 
produce a state of mental derangement, which made her 
an object of the deepest solicitude and commiseration, 
for about seven months. She has now, however, en- 
tirely recovered her senses, and once more, contrary to 
the expectation of any of her friends, gives her former 
diligent attention to the concerns of her family. Let 
this case then, stand recorded as a loud warning to all 
those who feel any disposition to give away to ground- 
less, visionary, fearful imagination. 

" Our greatest good, and what we least can spare 
Is hope ; the last of all our evils /ear." 

! ''The demon Fear 

That trembles at impossible events, 
Lest aged Atlas should resign his load, 
And heaven's eternal battlements rush down. 
Is there an evil worse than Fear itself ? 
And what avails it, that indulgent heaven 
From mortal eyes has wrapt the woes to come, 
If we ingenious to torment ourselves, 
Grow pale at hideous fictions of our own ? — 
Enjoy the present, nor with needless cares 



* Leek on Woman. 



266 

Of what may spring from blind misfortune's womb, 

Appal the surest hour that life bestows. 

Serene and master of yourself, prepare 

For what may come; and leave the rest to Heaven.''^ 

Note XXII.— Pag-e 63. 

A FEW years since, a compliment might very justly 
have been passed to the American ladies, for their mo- 
therly conduct to their children after their birth. There 
was a time in our history, and that but a little while 
since, when a mother expected to nurse her own child, 
as much as she expected to bring it into the world. A 
wet nurse was not thought of, except in cases of neces- 
sity; and then the separation of the mother and the 
child was always a bitterly painful step. It is to be 
feared, however, that at present, the necessity of the 
case is not always consulted, nor the advice of physicians 
always desired. It is with grief, that I behold this 
almost exploded custom, again asserting a claim to be 
fashionable. The evil is a growing one, and ought to 
be nipped in its bud. A fevv' extracts, therefore, from 
one or two respectable authors, will neither be out of 
i;ime nor out of place. 

Ward, speaking of the origin of diseases of the spine, 
says, ^^This complaint has its foundation frequently laid 
in the improper method of nursing during early infan- 
cy, from the ignorance, if not culpable negligence of 
mothers, in refusing that nutriment to their offspring 
which nature herself has provided, and for which it is 
scarcely possible to find any substitute capable of afford- 
ing to the infantile stomach, a food so readily digestible 
and convertible into nourishment. It may be confident- 
ly asserted, that the infant is, under no circumstances so 
healthy, or free from disease, as when it is supported en- 
tirely on the breast of the mother ; and I have observed 
that children nourished entirely at the breast, are more 
capable of resisting the baneful effects of over-feeding, 
afterwards, than those who have been sustained by other 
food. The health of the parent may, in some instances. 



Vol 



be deemed a sufficient reason for the non-performance 
of this duty ; the frequent neglect of it, however, on 
slight and insufficient grounds, cannot be too strongly 
reprobated," 

Lichtenstein remarks, that amongst the Koossas, where 
the mother suckles her child two years, '^ diseases among 
infants are rare. It is very rare indeed, to hear a child 
cry ; all my companions agreed with me in this point ; 
we never knew an infant scream, or an older child 
weep !"^ 

''To every feeling and considerate mother, inability 
to suckle, is a serious evil ; and, generally speaking, it 
is an evil of as great magnitude to the mother herself, 
as to the child; for a secretion of milk prevents many 
present, and not a few eventual mischiefs. The health 
of women during suckling is, in most instances, better 
than at any period of their lives. Their appetite is ex- 
cellent, their sleep sound and refreshing, their spirits 
free, their temper cheerful. But to every conscientious 
mother there is, superadded to all this, a pleasurable 
feeling of a still higher and nobler kind : it is a sense 
of conscientiously discharging the maternal duty : it is 
the gratification of beholding the lovely babe to whom 
she has given birth, saved from the cold caresses of a 
hireling, to He in the warm embraces of her own bosom ; 
to grow from the sweet fountain which she fiirnishes from 
her own veins, — rich, ample, and untainted ; to swell with 
the tender thrill that shoots through the heart at every lit- 
tle draught which is drawn away from her, — to see the 
cheeks dimple, and the eyes brighten, and the limbs 
play, and the features open ; and to trace in every fresh 
lineament, a softened image of herself, or one dearer 
to her than herself This is the luxury that awaits the 
mother whose unseduced ear still listens to the voice 
of nature, and estimates the endearments of domestic 
life at a higher value than the intoxicating charm of 

+ Voyage in Southern Africa. 

22* 



258 

fashionable amusements and midnight revels. Though 
transported with the present, her comforts do not end 
with the present ; for she has yet to look forward to a 
term of life in which, when those who have made a sa- 
crifice of maternal duty at the altar of pleasure, are 
wasting with decline — trembling with palsy, or torment- 
ed with the dread of cancer, she will still enjoy the 
blessings of unbroken health, and sink as on a downy 
pillow into tranquil old age."*" 

"If your own milk be not the true and proper food 
for your infant, why are you so formed ? Why does the 
secretion of your milk immediately succeed the birth of 
the infant ? Why is it in preparation and readiness at 
the very time he requires it, and at no other time? 
That it is his true and proper food, there can be no 
question. Nature, throughout all her economy, and all 
her works, does not present a more clear, obvious and 
indisputable fac4;. It is as clear as the sun itself ; it is 
an institute of nature, fundamental, and therefore fixed, 
stable, and insurmountable. 

" Were the suckhng animal to deny her milk to her 
offspring, or to feed them with any other sort of food ; 
were the feathered tribes to fail in gathering the natural 
food of their young, or to fail in taking it into their sto- 
machs, to adapt it to their digestive powers ; and were 
the insect tribes to deposit their eggs in situations where 
their progeny could not find their natural food, or to 
fail in laying up with their eggs, a store of nature's food, 
to be in readiness when they are hatched and brought 
forth; were the instincts of nature to fail in these 
things, disease and death to the whole of these different 
classes of animals, would, most infallibly ensue, and 
each individual race would become extinct, "t 

" I could wish that every woman would give suck to 
her own child. I am very sure, that forcing back the 
Oiilk, which most young women must have in great 

''' Good's Study of Medicine. t Herdnian on Ini^t?. 



259 

abundance, may be of fatal consequence. Sometimei^^ 
it endangers life, and often lays the foundation of incu- 
rable diseases. The reasons that are given for this 
practice, are very frivolous, and drawn from false pre- 
mises ; that some women are too weak to bear such a 
drain, which would rob them of their own nourish- 
ment : this is a very mistaken notion."*" 

Note XXllh—Page 64. 

In order to feed your curiosity, I extract from " Ray 
on Creation^^^ the following case of a man's giving suck 
to his own child ; not, however, as being the only case 
on record, by any means. 

'' A countryman called Billardino de Billo^ Hving in 
a village belonging to Nocera^ in Umhria^ called Soma- 
reggio, whose wife dying, and leaving a young infant, 
he nourished it with his own milk. This man, either 
because in the small village where he lived, there was 
not a wet-nurse to be had, or because he was not able 
to hire one, took the child, and applying it to his own 
bosom, and putting the nipples of his breasts into its 
mouth, invited it to suck, when the infant, after divers 
times drawing, fetched some milk ; which, as the father 
encouraged, continued to apply it, and so, after awhile, 
it brought down the milk so plentifully, as to nourish it 
for many months, till it was fit to be weaned. "t 

Note XXIV.— P«^e QQ. 

This gracious bounty is only abused by man in civi- 
lized life. ''If we take a view of all animated nature, 
it is shocking to find, that woman should be the only 
monster capable of withholding the nutritive fluid from 
her young. Such a monster, however, does not exist 
among the savage nations ; they cannot separate the 
idea of bringing forth a child, from the necessity of giving 
it suck. The wives of the American savages, are said 

* Cadogaii on Infants, t Ray on Creation. • 



960 

to extend this mark of motherly tenderness and solici- 
tude, even to infants that die upon the breast. After 
having bestowed upon them the rights of burial, they 
come once a day, for several weeks, and press from the 
nipple a few drops of milk upon the grave of the de- 
parted suckling. I have seen a drawing taken from na- 
ture, by a gentleman at Botany Bay ; it represented a 
female of that country, after having opened one of her 
veins, and made an incision in the navel of her suck- 
ling child, endeavoring to transfuse her blood into its 
body, and hoping thereby to restore its health, and to 
prolong its existence. Let the mother in civilized so- 
ciety, who, from motives of selfish ease, and imaginary 
pleasure, denies her infant the vital stream with which 
she is abundantly supplied for its sustenance, think of the 
poor savage, and start with horror at her own unnatural 
depravity."* 

^'I am quite at a loss to account for the general prac- 
tice of sending infants out of doors to be suckled, or 
dry-nursed by another woman, who has not so much 
understanding, nor can have so much affection for it, as 
the parents ; and how it comes to pass, that people of 
good sense and easy circumstances, will not give them- 
selves the pains to watch over the health and welfare of 
their children, but are so careless as to give them up to 
the common methods, without considering how near it 
is to an equal chance, that they are destroyed by them. 
The ancient custom of exposing them to wild beasts, 
or drowning them, would certainly be a much quicker 
and a more Humane way of despatching them."t 

Note XX\ ,—Page, 67. 

The melancholy mortality among children, is a sub- 
ject which has long attracted the attention of the phi- 
lanthropist. It is variously stated by different writers 
upon the subject. Dr. Underwood says, "it is univer- 



* Advice to Mothers. t Cadogan. 



261 

sally acknowledged, that a far greater number of chil- 
dren die under the age of two years, than at any other 
period." It has been remarked by another, "that out 
of 2,785 who died within the month, 1,292 died the 
first day of their existence." "It is no less astonish- 
ing than true, that more than one fourth part of the hu- 
man race die in infancy — in their first year."* 

"But let any one," says Cadogan, "who would be 
fully convinced of this matter, look over the bills of 
mortality. There he may observe, that almost half the 
number of those who fill up that black list, die under 
five years of age : so that half the people that come into 
the world, go out of it again before they become of the 
least use to it, or themselves." Buchan, in his " Advice 
to Mothers ^^^ says, "It appears from the best calcula- 
tions, that at least, one half the children born, die be- 
fore they are twelve years old ; of the surviving half at 
that period, how many perish before they attain to ma- 
turity ?" These statements are truly alarming- and oall 
not only for the attention of physicians, but for the 
watchfialness of parents. There is a fault somewhere, 
and that fault should be corrected. It should, how^ever, 
be noticed, that these statements, for the most part, are 
taken from hospitals and city registers, it being very 
difficult to ascertain the exact proportion of deaths 
among children under a certain age in the country. 
They are all, too, from European WTiters. It is con- 
jectured, that, generally, the mort?ality in this country, 
is not near as great as these accounts represent. And 
•it will be seen, from the following table, derived from 
the yearly reports of the corporation, that as far as this 
city is concerned, the proportion is less. 



^ Herdman on Infants, 





262 


• 


Years. 


Total deaths. 


Deaths under 
5 years of age 


1822 


3,231 


1,276 


1823 


3,444 


1,422 


1824 


4,341 


1,858 


1825 


5,018 


1,795 


1826 


4,973 


2,058 



Total in 5 years, 21,007 8,409 

By which it appears, that in this city and county, two 
fifths of all who die, die under five years of age. The 
editor has examined some of the grave-yards in the 
country, to endeavor to discover the proportion in vil- 
lages ; but from the dilapidation of time, and the speed 
in which the little mound of earth becomes level, and 
the ahnost universal neglect of parents placing tomb- 
stones at the graves of their infant children, no inform- 
ation of any value or importance, could be gained from 
the inspection. 

Note XXVI.— Page 72. 

Is it.ever consistent and right for a woman of scrof- 
fulous habits to nurse her own child ? This is a ques- 
tion of considerable interest to many mothers. They 
do not wish to entail upon their oflfspring a disease from 
which they themselves have suffered so much ; and they 
feel willing to make almost any sacrifice to prevent it. 
It is a question, a satisfactory answer to which, involves 
a good deal of difficulty. It is doubtless proper, always 
to err on the safe side, and of two evils, to choose the 
least ; and, therefore, when it can conveniently be done, 
perhaps it is better for the mother, under such circum- 
stances, not to nurse her child. But many women in 
the middle walks of life, who labor under some scroffu- 
lous taint of constitution, cannot afford to keep an addi- 
tional servant, and particularly one of so consequential 
and so expensive a stamp, as wet nurses generally are : 
and voluntarily to deprive a little helpless infant from the 



263 

first hours of its existence, of the food the wise and boun- 
tiful author of its being has provided for it, is a trial of no 
very supportable kind for a fond mother to resolve upon : 
before entering upon such a task, she will require the 
point of duty to be made very plain. It is not one of the 
least painful trials of the married state, for an affection- 
ate mother to wean her child, who has for a long, long 
time been drawing both nourishment and strength from 
this natural fountain. The resolution is usually accom- 
panied with very painful emotions ; and if the accom- 
plishment of it is so trying when the infant is at an age 
to receive other nourishment ; nay, when other nourish- 
ment becomes necessary, it certainly must be more try- 
ing to deny it one drop of nature's food. To such 
mothers, then, the question becomes of great interest. 
Can a child contract a constitutional disease from '' nur- 
sing ?" I am aware that many of the most respectable 
physicians are of opinion that they can ; but even that is 
no reason why the inquiry should not be made. I do not 
pretend to answer in the negative, but I by no means 
think the affirmative so certain. I intend merely to state 
one or two facts, let them have whatsoever bearing they 
may. i. ScrofFula descends as often through the ma]e 
as through the female line of a family. 2. A child 
having a scrofFulous mother, and, if taken from her and 
given to a wet nurse of perfectly healthy constitution, is 
not by any means secure from attacks of the disease in 
some form or other, as experience fully testifies. 3. A 
scroffulous mother may sometimes have healthy children, 
notwithstanding she nurses them herself. 4. Another 
consideration I must mention is, that provided a child 
does not nurse its mother, the mother is almost certain 
to become pregnant again after a much shorter interval 
than she otherwise would do, and thereby running the 
chance of bringing into the world more scroffulous chil- 
dren than she would be likely to do if she nursed her 
own child. I would not, for one moment, be thought to 
favor the opinion that infectious diseases are not coi)- 



'264 

tiacted at the breast. This is a fact which no one in his 
senses would ever think of denying. 

Note XXYlh— Page 73. 

The fact that children do pinie away and die, and 
sometimes with apparently very little disease, if the 
nurse should still continue to furnish it with milk when 
she is in the family-way, is one which is well established. 
^^The change that has taken place," says Richerand, 
" shows itself in all her functions : she exhales a pecu- 
liar, odour; the child she suckles refuses the breast, or 
takes it with reluctance, and soon falls away, if left in 
the hands of such a nurse." It is, doubtless, a fruitful 
source of fatal disease in infants, and should be assidu- 
ously guarded against by those having the charge of 
them. 

Note XXYIIh— Page 81. 

Nothing is more common than for mothers to keep 
the child away from the breast until the milk flows into 
it : not conjecturing that early titilation of the nipple, is 
one of the best means to cause a gentle and gradual flow 
of the milk into the breasts. They seem to think the 
child requires something to be given it until the '^ milk 
comes." And the first thing is, a little molasses and 
water, for the purpose of purging away the " encomium," 
(as we are informed by Herdman, the London nurses 
call the dark coloured discharge, which first passes from 
the bowels,) then the little creature must swallow down 
some pap, &c. &/C. The stomach being thus full, 
(for the stomach of a new-born infant requires but little 
to fill it,) and the child having no appetite, — when it is 
deemed time to apply it to the breast, the sadness of the 
case is that it cannot suck at all ! and no wonder, I think. 
The breasts become fuller and fuller, by the fruitless ir- 
ritation of this delayed operation ; and, at length, be- 
come so caked and hard, that they must be drawn by 
the nurse or some one else; and by this time the nip- 



265 

pie becomes so excoriated, by the constant endeavors 
to soften the breast, that the poor exhausted mother is 
oftentimes in a continued state of agony; and ten 
chances to one, she must have a gathered breast in 
the bargain. Now all this ninety-nine times out of an 
hundred might be saved, if the child had been put to the 
empty breast, with an empty stomach, within two or 
three hours after it was born. It wants, at first, but 
little, and that little it will almost invariably obtain from 
the breast, notwithstanding you may imagine there is 
nothing in it. 

NoTEXXIX.~P«^e 81. 

The dress of an infant should be loose and light, even 
the roller which passes around the body, and which is 
in almost universal use in this country ; if necessary at 
all, should be made of soft, new, thin, yielding flannel, 
and be tied with tape strings, just tight enough to keep 
the pledget of soft linen upon the navel. This bandage 
does not prevent rupture, as is often thought ; its effect 
is more the cause of rupture, if it be firmly put around, 
xlnother injurious custom is, wrapping up the child's 
feet, and pinning what is called the foot blanket, so as 
to confine the infant's feet. Let every possible source 
of irritation be removed, and especially every thing 
tight and confining. "Rational tenderness," says an 
unknown author, '^ shows itself in making the dress 
lights simple and loose. By being as light as is con- 
sistent with due warmth, it will neither encumber 
the infant, nor cause any waste of its powers ; in con- 
sequence of its simplicity., it will be readily and easily 
put on so as to prevent many cries and tears, an object 
of infinite importance ; — and its looseness will leave full 
room for moving and stretching those little limbs which 
have been so long heaped together ; and for the growth 
and expansion of the entire frame." "A piece of fine 
flannel," says Buchan, "round the navel, a linen or cot- 
ton shirt, a flannel petticoat, a linen or cotton robe, are 

23 



266 

soon put on ; and where fastenings are requisite, they 
should consist of tape, without the dangerous use of 
pins. Their punctures and scratches are very irrita- 
ting ; and the fact is far from being singular and extra- 
ordinary, where pins were found sticking above half an 
inch into the body of a child, after it had died of 
CONVULSION FITS, which in all probabiUty proceeded from 
that cause." 

" No part of an infant's dress should hang down more 
than two or three inches below the feet : long robes and 
long petticoats, serve only to conceal the nurse's inatten- 
tion to cleanliness ; and are, even on that account, very 
improper, as well as cumbersome. The night clothes 
should be much lighter than those worn by day, from a 
due regard to the situation of the infant, who should, at 
all times, either in bed or out, experience nearly the 
same degree of warmth ; — every moisture or impurity 
should be instantly removed ; and as those parts of the 
dress which are next to the skin, are constantly imbibing 
perspirable matter, they should be changed frequently. 
Away with finery, but take care the child is always 
CLEAN AND DRY." The child's cap, which should always 
be of some very light, thin, and single material, should 
be laid aside at the expiration of two or three months ; 
and a child should not sleep in a night cap. Re- 
member, too, that a child should never sleep on its 
nurse's arms, to imbibe the heat and moisture of 
her body. The editor has often observed, with pain, 
the puny and feeble health of young children, who are 
compelled to sleep with old persons : it will rob a 
healthy, plump child of its flesh and all its vigor, while 
it increases the vigor and the warmth of the old person 
with whom it sleeps; and it was, doubtless, from a 
knowledge of this fact, that the friends of the old pa- 
triarch David, expected strength, and vigor, and warmth, 
from a young and blooming bed-fellow. 



267 

Note XXX,— Page 82. 

The remarks which I had occasion to make in the 
28th note, cannot be too strongly impressed upon the 
minds of all who have any thing to do with the first mo- 
ments of an infant's existence ; and as the remarks of 
that very excellent author, Herdman, are so exactly in 
point, and, as his authority too, is excellent, I feel in 
duty bound to give you a copious extract. 

"You think that the infant may starve before you 
can give him the breast. But this is a vain thought, for 
he is in no danger of starvation ; his blood is rich of 
nourishment, as it were ; he had a constant supply, till 
the very moment of his birth ; and this supply is fully 
sufficient for the purposes of his economy, till the 
changes of his birth are effected ; till his new organs, 
his stomach and bowels, are ready to digest and prepare 
his nourishment, and till you are ready to give him the 
breast. Besides, how can you suppose that nature 
would leave a matter, so essential to the welfare, the 
preservation and existence of the infant, so ill contrived ? 
And pray, what do the young of the inferior animals 
get, before the mother's milk is ready for them? no 
one thing whatever ; it is ready so soon as they require 
it, or so soon as they are ready to receive it. 

" This is a universal law of nature ; a law which ob- 
tains with you, as well as with the inferior animals ; that 
the milk of the mother is in preparation, and in readiness, 
and at the very time her offspring requires it, or is ready 
to receive it ; or, in other words, the infant's necessity 
for food, and the mother's ability to supply it, exactly 
keep pace, or correspond with each other. 

" For you perceive, that your milk is not in readiness 
at the very time the infant is born ; but, at this time, its 
secretion begins, and in a certain period it is ready to 
be given out for his support and nourishment. Neither 
does the infant require it at the time of his birth ; nay, 
he is not in readiness to receive it, for as the secretion 
of your milk begins immediately after its birth, so also 



268 

do the changes of his body ; and till those changes be 
effected, the milk cannot be digested, or turned into 
nourishment. 

'^ The fact is simply this : that instead of nourishing 
the infant, by feeding him before your milk is in readi- 
ness, or before the changes of birth are effected, you 
only load his stomach with a substance it cannot pos- 
sibly digest. As in purging away the meconium from 
his bowels, you derange his whole economy ; and you 
disturb the changes of his birth — you bring him real 
starvation ; for the substance you give him is not digest- 
ed, and when he gets your milk, neither is it digested, 
because his physic and his food have thrown his stomach 
and his bowels into the state of disease ; and this dis- 
ease is displayed in flatulencies, purgings and gripes : 
in green, sour, slimy, curdled and offensive stools, and 
his want of nourishment is soon displayed in emacia- 
tion, and leanness, and softness of flesh. 

" Nor is this all ; for you not only bring severe and 
lasting disease to the infant, by feeding it before it 
sucks, but also severe injury to yourselves. While the 
infant is thus diseased ; while he is tormented with se- 
vere flatulencies and gripes ; while he is kicking, and 
crying, and writhing in agony, he will neither suck nor 
fasten to suck. He is applied, and re-apphed to the 
breast; but still he refuses to suck. Thus you are 
teased, fatigued, and worn out : yet often your breasts 
become gorged, and distended with milk. Now your nip» 
pies are sore and inflamed ; now you have swelHngs, and 
suppurations in your breasts, milk fevers and milk sores. 
The whole economy which nature has established be- 
tween you and your infant, is thrown into confusion. 
But one link in the chain broken, one institution of na- 
ture perverted, and the whole fabric falls to the ground : 
the most untoward and direful consequences ensue. 

" Be it your business, therefore, to prevent these con- 
sequences. Preserve this link, this simple, yet beauti- 
ful fabric entire ; preserve the connection which the 



269 

wisdom of nature has established between you and your 
infant, in the most strict and sacred manner. Be not 
forgetful, but pay the most sacred regard to this sove- 
reign and universal law of nature, that the mother'' s abili- 
ty^ or readiness to supply the infant with her milk^ and his 
necessity for food^ exactly keep pace^ and correspond 
ivitheach other," 

It may be interesting to some of my readers, to know 
the method pursued in child-bed, by the ancient Ger- 
mans, it being so totally different from any thing we now 
see, or even should wish to see. 

" The hardy active wife of the ancient Germans, 
(from whom we are descended,) was frequently deliver- 
ed in the open field, in the midst of her toil. She bathed 
her fond offspring in the nearest brook, and wrapped 
him in cool leaves. Thus the open and serene sky, ca- 
nopied the puerperal bed. Frequently the labor of the 
field was continued. The dipping and bathing of the 
infant, on his introduction to the light of day, was prac- 
ticably a test of his sound state, and certainly hardened 
his tender body."^ 

Note XXXL—Page 89. 
Other causes besides a want of rest, tend greatly to 
produce a disagreeable milk ; " when a nurse,*' says 
the excellent Moore, in his Medical Sketches, '^ passes 
too long a time without fresh suppHes of victuals, her 
milk becomes rank and bitter, and the child she suckles 
rejects it with disgust ; let her take a basin of fresh 
broth, and, within a short time, her breasts will be filled 
with sweet milk, and the child will suck it with avidity." 

Note XXXII.— Pa^6 90. 
Another danger of over-feeding children, is, in- 
ducing a distortion of the spinal coUum, by destroying 
the vigor of the system. 



'■* Salzmann's Gymna,stic?, 
23* 



270 

•'A similar error to which the distortion of the spine may 
be traced, is the abuse in the mode of diet often adopted 
by nurses and others, not only during the period of 
weaning, but for some years afterwards ; loading the sto- 
mach with an unnecessary quantity of food ; the de- 
fective nutrition of the body is to be attributed no less 
to excess of quantity, than to a deficiency of nutriment ; 
and I would appeal to the experience of those who have 
had extensive opportunities of observation, in the dis- 
orders of children, whether the instances of disease 
arising from privation of food, be not much less fre- 
quent, than those occasioned by the contrary extreme, 
by which the assimilatory organs are rendered incapable 
of converting the superabundance into chyle, suitable for 
the nutrition of the body. It is a fact, exemplified in 
the mode in which men are trained and exercised for pu- 
gilistic contests, as well as in the feeding of game cocks, 
that, though the animal powers are increased for a time 
by the free use of highly nutritious food, the practice 
cannot be persevered in ; and if continued too long, it 
will occasion a loss of strength and vigor."* 

Note XXXllL—Page 91. 

While some physicians are opposed to the use of 
cradles, and have wrote much exposing their injurious 
effects, others have espoused the other side of the ques- 
tion, and have ventured to write in their favor. Among 
the latter class, is the late Dr. Underwood : he thinks 
the undulating motion of the child before birth, points 
out the propriety of continuing the same, or a similar 
motion, after it is born. He likewise draws an argu- 
ment in their favor, from the custom which almost uni- 
versally prevails, of moving and dandling a child, when 
ever it appears uneasy or crying, in order to still it ; 
therefore inferring the use from instinct. That cradles 
actually do harm, I am not prepared to say : some are 

^ Ward on the Spine. 



271 

of opinion that they are one great cause of the alarnrung- 
prevalency of dropsy in the brain ; but I cannot think 
that these writers have supported their opinion with any 
very clear or powerful arguments ; but this, howe7er, 
is certain, that they are generally useless ; and usually, 
by promoting an undue proportion of sleep during the 
day, make a child restless at night. A child accus- 
tomed to the cradle, looks for it as much as for the 
breast, and it is no small task to be tied to a cradle for 
two or three hours at a time ; and, moreover, it is al- 
together probable, that if children were to spend in the 
open air, only half the time they are forced to lay in an 
unnecessary sleep, it would conduce far more to their ge- 
neral health : therefore, perhaps, as a general rule, we 
may safely say, that it is better a cradle should never dis- 
grace a nursery — nevertheless, it will not be as the Doc- 
tor says. 

Note XXXIV.— P«g6 99. 

Respecting the time of weaning children, no cer- 
tain rule can be laid dow^n. It has already been shown, 
that a child cannot be permitted to suck after its nurse 
is in the family-way, without endangering, most serious- 
ly, its health. In general, 1 should say no child ought 
to be weaned, until it has teeth ; and, perhaps, at the 
appearance of as many as three or four teeth, it would 
be advisable to commence occasionally feeding the child, 
with a view to weaning it, if it can conveniently be 
done, before giving it the breast ; and in this way to en- 
deavor to bring about this important change in its mode 
of living, in as gradual a way as possible. Mothers 
would doubtless avoid one great source of danger at- 
tending the w^eaning of their children, if they would 
only consent to listen to the wholesome rules here laid 
down — rules, it appears to me, dictated alike by reason, 
humanity, and experience. The common custom of 
suddenly depriving a little infant of its accustomed nou- 



272 

rishment, is one, to say nothing of the danger attending 
it, abominably cruel, and ridiculously absurd. 

Note XXXV,— Page 99. 

It is very essential to the process of digestion, that 
the food we take, especially animal food, should be well 
masticated. Old people are often troubled with dis- 
tressing symptoms of indigestion ; and it is more than 
probable, that it owes its principal cause, more than half 
the time, to imperfectly chewing their food. Their 
teeth are usually so much decayed, that they do not pos- 
sess the facility of getting their food fine, which they 
once did ; and it has been observed, that those old 
people who have their teeth entire, or nearly so, are 
usually less afflicted with indigestion, than those whose 
teeth are either gone, or otherwise rendered useless. 

If food be taken slow, and well masticated, much less 
will satisfy hunger than when it is bolted ; and, of 
course, it will be digested without the oppression neces- 
sarily attending a crammed stomach. 

Note XXXYl.— Page 101. 

In cases where children have long been laboring un- 
der bowel complaints, and where the astringent and the 
purgative appear alike perfectly inefficacious, I have seen 
the good eifects of a piece of salted pork, taken from the 
barrel, toasted upon a fork before the fire, and given to 
the child. In most cases children will cry after more, when 
they will reject almost any other kind of food. 

Note XXXVIL— Pa^6 111. 

The syrup of violets, and the oil of almonds, form a 
prescription which cannot be very readily obtained ; but 
the following preparation will answer all the purposes, 
and, in some respects, is preferable. The necessity of 
giving any medicine, however, should be clearly ascer- 
tained ; for there can be but little doubt, but what more 
injury is done by indiscriminately administering medi- 



273 

cine for every trifling complaint, than by entirely with- 
holding it. 

For a gentle laxative, take of powdered rhubarb and 
calcined magnesia, of each thirty grains ; mix with eight 
table-spoonsful of water, and add four drops of essence 
of peppermint, and a large lump of loaf sugar ; of this, 
give a desert-spoonful to a child a year old, as occasion 
may require. The common syrup of rhubarb, prepared 
with spices, and mixed with Hme water, is, also, an ex- 
cellent purgative for young children. I wish, however, 
to have it distinctly understood, that I do most cordially 
and heartily disapprove of nurses dosing infants, at their 
own discretion.*" 

Note XXXVIII.— Pa^6 113. 

An eastern dervise was once asked by a wealthy Ma- 
hometan, '•'- Of what service to society is an order of 
men, who employ themselves in speculative notions of 
divinity and medicine ?" ^^ If you were more cautious 
and temperate in your meals," answered the dervise ; '-if 
you would learn to govern your passions and desires, by 
a due attention to abstinence, you all might be sages, 
and have no occasion for dervises among you. But 
your appetite and aliment impair your understanding." 

'^ In the consumption of food we are liable to com- 
mit errors, both as to their quantity and quality. The 
error in the quantity, however, is generally the most 
detrimental. A smaU portion of food can be better 
digested, and more easily changed into chyle, — or that 
elementary fluid, from which the blood derives its origin, 
— than a large portion, which injures the coats of the 
stomach, and prevents them from exerting their force. 
Hence every satiety, or superfluity, is noxious. 

" It is in infancy and early age, that the foundation is 
laid for the many diseases arising from indigestion, which 
are now found in almost every family. If children are 



* See Introductory Letter. 



274 

fed immoderately, and beyond the real wants of nature^ 
the first passages become too much distended, and their 
stomachs, by degrees, acquire an unnatural craving for 
food, which must be satisfied, whatever be the conse- 
quence. These excessive suppilies are not only unne- 
cessary, but produce the most serious and fatal disor- 
ders. There is a certain relation subsisting between 
what is taken in, and what is lost by the body. If we 
eat and drink much, we likewise lose much, without 
gaining any more by it, than we might do by moderate 
meals."* 

Note XXXIX.— Page 116. 

'' Slow eating, preserves the fibres in a due state of 
elasticity. Hence to eat slowly^ is the first maxim in 
dietetics ; the stomach suffering in this case a very gra- 
dual distension, as the food has sufficient time to be 
duly prepared by mastication. He who observes this 
simple rule, wdll feel himself satisfied, only after he has 
received a due proportion of aliment. But he who 
swallows his food too quickly, and before it is perfectly 
chewed, will imagine he has eaten enough, when the 
unmasticated provisions occasion a sense of pressure on 
the sides of the stomach. The teeth are designed by 
nature to grind our food, and to mix it with the saliva, 
produced by innumerable glands, and destined to pro- 
mote its solution."! 

Note XL.-- -Page 123. 

Regularity in the meals of children, has an import- 
ant bearing upon their health, notwithstanding a late 
writer| seems to hoot at the idea. When children are 
all the time picking a little here, and a little there, when 
partaking the regular meals of the family, they are ob- 
served to eat nothing, and " surely they must be sick," 
is the common exclamation ; and, ten chances to one, 

"^ Vv^illich on Diet. t Ibid. | See Maternal Physicianc 



275 

down goes a dose of physic, especially if there be any 
other symptoms of disease present. And again ; when 
children never know the sense of hunger, they cannot 
have a keen relish for food ; and if they have not, they 
cannot have perfect digestion. It may be difficult to 
confine children to regular periods of eating ; and, in- 
deed, it is not to be expected that the precise regularity 
here laid down, as to time^ quality^ and quantity^ can be 
exactly observed ; but, nevertheless, I am persuaded, if 
there was more regularity, and more uniformity — more 
system, as it regards the meals of children, fewer would 
be diseased, and fewer would die. Over feeding, and 
irregularity as to time, is considered by all judicious 
physicians as a fruitful source of evil. And it is certain 
the habits of a child may be formed at a much earlier 
period than is usually attempted. Perseverance and 
decision are essential qualifications in this part of in- 
fantile management. 

Note XLI.— Page 128. 

This, perhaps, may be considered a direction ijiore 
proper to be given to a physician, than to a mother. 
But there exists an unaccountable prejudice in the minds 
of most mothers, against this simple operation, and 
which, it is our duty to remove. It is in the experience 
of almost every physician, an operation which affords, 
oftentimes, the most marked relief, and should never be 
objected to by the parent. It is, also, not unfrequently, 
a piece of affected foolishness, for the mother to refuse 
holding the child ; some one must be found, who has 
a harder heart. Often, however, has the editor di- 
vided the gum unknown to the mother, while she has 
been waiting for some one to hold the child. An opi- 
nion exists among many persons, as groundless as it is 
ridiculous, that if the gums should be lanced too soon, 
the child will cut the teeth with more difficulty after the 
cut has grown together again, because the gum becomes 
thicker. Now the reverse is just the fact ; for^ notwith- 



^ • 276 

standing the scar upon the gum renders it thicker, still 
its texture is nothing like as firm as it was before the 
operation, and will much more readily yield to the pres- 
sure of the tooth. 

Note XLIL— Page 129. 

This is, doubtless, a direction which has no place 
here, it belongs to the physician ; but, as a passing re- 
mark, I must be permitted to say, I have never found 
occasion for this particularity. It is giving to the ope- 
ration a formidable appearance, which does not belong 
to it. An incision, with sufficient force of pressure to 
reach the tooth, is all that is requisite. The instrument 
now universally used for the purpose, is the gum lancet. 
No other should ever be allowed. 

Note XUIL—Page 138. 

The origin of worms in the human intestines, is a 
subject which has long occupied the attention of phy- 
sicians and naturalists ; and principally, two opinions 
seem to divide them ; each of which, as is usually the 
case, claim great names for its support. The one 
accounting for them on the principle of equivocal ge- 
neration ; the other, that their eggs exist in different 
parts of the body, and are vivified only under particu- 
lar circumstances. The former, principally advocated 
by writers of an atheistical cast ; the other, by those 
who believe all animals have a parent ; and, doubtless, 
as reason and religion advance, the latter opinion will 
prevail. This is not the place for a disquisition on 
worms — that concerns the physician ; but it may be of 
practical importance to you to know, that weak, feeble 
children, are more subject to their diseases, — the children 
of the poor, far more than those of the rich, — children 
confined to a vegetable diet, more than those permitted 
the indulgence of a due proportion of animal food, — 
those restrained in their rompings, and their exercise, 
more than those encouraged in them, — those who live 



277 • 

poor, more than those who live well. They have also 
been observed to be more common among those chil- 
dren who are permitted to draw their nourishment from 
the breast of a hireUng, than among those who are en- 
joying the high privilege of drawing it from their own 
mother. Brera says, that "in Sweden, the third part of 
the sick poor, who are badly fed, and who drink the im- 
pure water of the Soetra, are very often attacked with 
verminous diseases." 

It seems necessary that I should sound a word of cau- 
tion to mothers, to be careful how they administer worm 
powders to their children, from the hands of quacks. 
In the vicinity of almost every considerable town, are 
to be found persons who profess to prepare a secret 
medicine, which possesses wonderful power over worms. 
And they will tell you, that if the worms do not come 
away whole, they will come away in " pieces." When 
the "pieces," as they call them, are merely the effect of 
the irritation upon the inner coat of the bowels, caused 
by their nostrums. As a warning to parents, let me tell 
you, that I have known the death of three lovely child- 
ren caused by these abominable drugs, within the two 
last years ; and in two of them, they produced a dropsy 
of the brain. Be, then, upon your guard ; let no ruth- 
less, selfish, sordid hand, meddle with the tender plant. 
Our children form too great a part of ourselves, for 
them to suffer alone : we too must feel every pang which 
they do ; and, very oflen, feel it much longer too. 

The advice given by the author, to let children take, 
occasionally, a little wine, should only be followed un- 
der rigid restrictions ; that it ever does good, I have 
strong doubts ; that it may do harm, there can be no 
questioning. 

Note XUY.—Page 139. 

An article of diet, from the class of shell-fish, not 
known in England, is hard clams. They are whole- 
some, and easily digestible; but they should not be 

24 



278 

roasted dry or hard. If left with a good proportion of their 
liquor, they are often found very serviceable in the sum- 
mer complaint of children. The whole clam should be 
eaten ; no part should be rejected ; the hard part, — that 
which many persons are in the habit of throwing away, 
—will digest with the same ease as the softer. 

Note XLY.— Page 139. 

The doctor's wish has been very faithfully accom- 
plished ; and, perhaps, the best treatise upon the dis- 
eases of children which we have, is Dr. Underwood's. 
It, of course, contains some things which are exception- 
able. And what work is there from the mould of mor- 
tality, which does not? but these exceptions are few : 
and the whole profession, I am sure, feel grateful for 
this excellent production. 

Note XLVL—Page 139. 

'^ The Edinburgh college have entirely expunged this 
unnecessary drug, and take no farther notice of it, than 
barely giving it a place in the catalogue of simples, 
along with sundry other substances, which they do not 
insist, upon being kept in the shops. "^ 

Note XhYlL— Page 144. 

Matrimony, and its usual concomitant, the produc- 
tion of children, appear essential to the proper cultiva- 
tion of all the soft, endearing, ennobling virtues. The 
maiden lady of forty-five, and the bachelor of fifty, to- 
gether with the childless married pair, are alike usually 
deficient in those social graces which generally adorn 
those in other stations of life. These, in their constant 
intercourse with children, are continually compelled, 
more or less, to exercise patience, forbearance, meek- 
ness, docility and condescension ; they are continually 

-^^ Quincey's Dispensatory. 



279 

in circumstances which call forth either one or the other 
of these graces ; while those in another walk of life, plod- 
ding on the more even tenor of their way, are not half 
as often ruffled or perplexed, and teased ; and the love- 
ly graces being seldom called into exercise, are not visi- 
ble, or if visible at all, appear, oftentimes, ^^ not to be at 
home ;" consequently, at the age we have specified, the 
the latter class of individuals, is 



Stiff, dry, and sage. 



• Quoting old proverbs, oft with much formality," 

while the parent exhibits a character which is not readi- 
ly mistaken ; — affable and friendly, free from suspicion, 
from jealousy, and from precision. The one wrapped 
up in self, the other feeling for another's woes. 

Note XhYllL— Page 145, 

'^ I WILL visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
children, unto the third and fourth generation." 

A standing illustration of the doctrine of original 
sin, is to be found in every case of hereditary disease ; 
and as well might we say, it was '-'- inconsistent with the 
justice of a benevolent Deity," to permit hereditary dis- 
ease, as to permit children to be viciously inclined. 
Some are vastly more so than others, it is true ; and it 
is no less true, that it is one grand duty of parents, to 
overcome and check their vicious inclinations. 

Note XLIX.—Page 152. 
To the sober attention of those mothers who wish to 
hear more, respecting the management of children, I 
would cheerfiiUy recommend the writings of Miss Edge- 
worth. That lady has paid particular attention to the 
cultivation of the first dawnings of the human mind. 

Note L. — Page 157. 
'^ Milk has been, I know not by what authority, for- 
bidden in all fevers ; but, as far as my experience goes," 



280 

it affords an innocent food, where it is found grateful to 
the patient."*- 

Note LI. — Page 160. 

The great scarcity of asses' milk, especially in this 
country, even were it so much better for the infant and 
the invalid, places it entirely beyond the reach, of by 
far the greater portion of society ; but I am not at all 
clear, that it has even answered the expectations of 
those patients who have had it in their power to indulge 
themselves in it ; the stories of its wonderful efficacy, 
are by no means well attested : so that it is probable the 
poor are not deprived of any very valuable remedy, 
when they are forbidden the use of asses' milk. 

Note lAl.—Page 168. 

It would certainly add, in no small degree, to the 
comfort of the sick, if these rules could be observed. 
A custom generally prevails, of visiting the sick upon 
Sundays. On that day, very often, the friends of a sick 
person think, as they have nothing especially to claim 
their attention, they may, as well as not, go and pay them 
a visit, and the house becomes thronged. Their noise 
and their prattle, (for they must all have something to 
say,) make one constant buzz, which seldom fails to 
annoy the ears of the sick, even should the congrega- 
tion not assemble in the sick-chamber. And another 
occurrence, than which I know of none more ridi- 
culous, is, that a person should take offence, because he 
is refused to see the patient. Sure am I, that such 
never were very sick, and never knew, by their own 
experience, the pain of only turning the aching head to 
notice a visitor, or the greater pain of speaking, when 
disease has debilitated the system. If they had, they 



* Heberden's Commentaries. 



281 

would not so soon take fire at what may be considered 
almost essential to the comfort of the sick. 

Note Llll.—Page 169. 

There is a superstition existing in the minds of a 
vast many men, respecting this subject. They imagine, 
that, if they settle their worldly affairs, and make their 
will, it, somehow or other, may cut short their days. 
They cannot bear to think upon the subject, and thus it 
proceeds, until sickness comes on, and then all this ne- 
cessary work remains to be done. There can be no 
doubt but the agitation attending this last act of a man's 
hfe, thus delayed, has riveted faster the seeds of disease, 
and perhaps converted a complaint otherwise mild, into 
one which must soon prove fatal : almost every physician 
can verify the justness of this remark. 

Note LIV.— Page 177. 

The following remarks of that most excellent and 
accurate observer, Heberden, are so very applicable to 
our present purpose, that I cannot deny myself the plea- 
sure of quoting them. 

" Many physicians appear to be too strict and parti- 
cular in the rules of diet and regimen, which they de- 
liver as proper to be observed by all, who are solicitous, 
either to preserve or recover their health ; the too 
anxious attention to these rules, hath often hurt those 
who are well, and added, unnecessarily, to the distresses 
of the sick. The common experience of mankind will 
sufficiently acquaint any one with the sorts of food 
which are wholesome to the generality of men ; and his 
own experience will teach him, which of these agrees 
with his particular constitution. Scarcely any other di- 
rections besides these are wanted, except that, as varie- 
ty of food at the same meal, and poignant sauces, will 
tempt most persons to eat more than they can well di- 
gest ; they ought, therefore, to be avoided by all who 
are afflicted with any chronical disorder, or wish to keep 



282 

free from them ; but whether meat should be boiled or 
roasted, or dressed in any other plain way, and what 
sort of vegetables should be eaten with it, I never yet 
met with any person of common sense, (except in acute 
illness,) whom I did not think much fitter to choose for 
himself, than I was to determine for him. Small beer, 
where it agrees, or water alone, are the most proper li- 
quors at meals ; wine or spirits mixed with water, have 
gradually led on several to be sots, and have ruined 
more constitutions than ever were hurt by small beer, 
from its first invention. 

^' In fevers, a little more restraint is necessary ; but 
not so much as is often enjoined : — the stronger sort of 
meat and fish, are sometimes loathed by the sick them- 
selves ; nor could they be eaten without offending the 
stomach, and increasing the distemper, while it is at all 
considerable ; for in its decline, the sick are often de- 
sirous for some of the milder sorts of meat, and no harm 
follows from indulging their desires."*" 

Note LY.—Page 181. 

^^ Doubts are often raised about the propriety of 
changing the linen in sickness, just as there have been 
about changing the foul air of a sick chamber, by any 
of the means which could refresh and purify it. There 
can be but very little reason to fear any mischief from 
the cold, which the sick may feel while their clean linen 
is putting on ; for their attendants, with common care, 
will do this as safely as many other things which must 
necessarily be done for them. But some have a strange 
opinion of harm, from the smell of the soap, perceiva- 
ble in linen after it has been washed, and therefore al- 
low not their patients, when they change their linen, 
even to put on fresh, but such only as has been worn, 
or lain in by other persons. 

'^ By this contrivance, indeed, the smell of the soap 



* Heberderrs Commentaries. 



283 

might be taken off, but few cleanly people would think 
they gained any advantage by the exchange. Now, if 
a faint smell of soap were noxious, then soap-makers, 
and laundry servants, must be remarkably unhealthy ; 
which is contrary to experience : nor is it less so, that 
the sick are injured by the cleanliness of what they 
wear ; on the contrary, the removing of these foul 
things, has often diffused over them a sense of ease and 
comfort, which has soon lulled them into a quiet and 
refreshing sleep. "^ 

"^ Heberden's Commentaries. 



FINIS 



3 47 7 4 



